Families demand justice for sons shot dead by police in city

Melvin Ngure, 19 was carrying his childhood friend Ibrahim Wacira, 20 at the back of his motorcycle when the two met their death via a police bullet in Maili Saba area of Njiru in Nairobi on July 18.

Wacira who had just recently moved out of their house and rented a single-room in the same area held a television, which would cost the two, their lives.

Nairobi police commander James Mugera claimed the two were killed in a botched robbery as they tried to escape on a motorcycle.

"One was killed on the spot while the second one who had escaped with gunshot wounds was arrested by the public while bleeding. He succumbed minutes later," he said.

According to Mugera, police who attended the scene said they recovered a homemade gun that had four bullets, the motorcycle they were using and a television set that had been stolen.

However witnesses who spoke to the Star said the police narrative on how the duo met their death is not true.

“None of the boys were armed. Wacira who sustained gunshot wound was on his knees pleading with the police to spare him as he had a purchase receipt for the TV,” said a witness who did not want to be named.

Ngure’s mother Catherine Njeri told the Star that the two boys had bought the TV and as they took it home, for a reason she did not understand, police waylaid and killed them

“Police laid an ambush for them and shot at Wacira on one side of the abdomen and the same bullet went through the TV before hitting Ngure from the spinal cord, killing him instantly,” Njeri said.

“Wacira survived. The bullet only touched a small section of his abdomen. Ngure died immediately.”

The mother of two said Wacira had tried to escape after he was shot but police officers pursued him and took him away in their vehicle.

When his body was found later at City mortuary, Wacira had three gunshot wounds, including one on the neck.

The police however insisted he had sustained all the injuries at the crime scene while attempting to flee.

Hillary Sengo, Ngure’s step father said he received a call from his father-in-law asking him to drop duties immediately and rush to Moroto in Dandora where he was.

“We went to the scene and found Ngure’s body still lying there covered in blood. Witnesses told us that Wacira had survived and had been taken by the police officers,” Sengo sad.

He said he immediately went to Mama Lucy Hospital as he sent Wacira’s relative to Kenyatta National Hospital hoping that the 20-year-old would be taken there.

“I waited till around 7pm and when it was apparent that the officers were not going to bring Wacira there, I left,” he recounted.

A witness whom Wacira sought refuge in her house told the Star that Wacira was bleeding and so she went out seeking help to take him to the hospital but the police showed up and took him.

“They dragged him into the boot of a private car but later asked him to get out and get into the police Land Cruiser. He asked me to get a wristband from his arm and keep it for him, but that was the last time I saw him,” the woman narrated.

Wacira’s father, Said Mwangi, went to City mortuary where he found his son’s body tagged under unknown person, shot by police during a robbery incident.

“His body was covered with grass, he had bruises on the left side of the body and his nose was broken. I could only image the painful death my son met,” he said.

Agnes Gathigia, Wacira’s mother was attending her father’s burial in Nyeri and was expecting him the next day during burial when she received the news of her son’s death.

“I thought it was a joke. All my children dropped out of school except Wacira. He was calm, disciplined and my only hope,” Gathigia said.

The misery of the two families did not end there as police from Kinyago Police Post where officers who killed the two came from, were unavailable for a postmortem.

“We buried our sons immediately according to Islamic religion. The police officer however only availed himself two days later,” she said.

The two families also said they were sent out of the postmortem room. After the procedure, which the families said they paid Sh6,000 for, they were not given any report.

“The pathologist came out and told us that one bullet had been retrieved from Ngure’s body and three from Wacira,” Sengo said.

The parents said their children grew up together and had no criminal record. After finishing high school, the two were helping Ngure's mother supply internet to residents at a fee. Wacira also did photography.

“The also reared dogs, pigs and poultry for sale," Njeri said showing the Star her back lawn that had been converted into an animal farm.

Ngure's grandfather Joachim Ngure, appealed to the Independent Police Oversight Authority and human rights organisations to intervene and ensure the families get justice.

"The police officers must tell us why it was difficult to arrest unarmed motorcyclist and who was complaining that a television set had been stolen,” he said.

Njeri said police have confiscated the motorcycle and declined to release it to them saying investigations are still ongoing, more than a month later.