Murang'a family mourns kin shot dead during Saba Saba protests

Benjamin Kioko, the brother of Julius Muli, who died during protests in Kangari, Kigumo, on July 7, 2025/Alice Waithera.

A family from Kangari town in Kigumo subcounty, Murang'a County, is mourning a 30-year-old man shot dead by police officers.

Julius Muli Nduku, a casual laborer, was among protesters who took to the streets on Monday, protesting against police brutality and insecurity in the town.

The protests started on Sunday after a suspected bodaboda thief was arrested and detained at Kangari police station.

Residents wanted the suspect compelled to reveal his accomplices and lit bonfires on the streets, with the protests lasting until 10 pm.

But the protests were calm, the residents said, until they spilled over to Monday and more protesters joined in as they joined other protesters nationwide.

Benjamin Kioko, Muli's brother, confirmed that he was pronounced dead on arrival at Murang’a County Referral Hospital after suffering gunshot wounds to the lower abdomen and upper arm.

He said his brother was among a group of youths who were peacefully protesting before police officers opened fire at them.

"I have lost a brother, the only person I could go to when I needed to talk to someone. We want justice for him," he said, noting that he has left a young family.

Peter Kamau, a matatu operator who had accompanied Kioko to Murang'a County Referral Hospital said they will not rest until justice is served.

He said the youths were not armed and that they only lit bonfires before chaos erupted.

"We want the government to take care of the medical bills that will be incurred, and the officers involved held accountable”.

Police officers clear a blockade erected by youths at Kenol town along Kenol Murang'a road during Saba Saba protests on July 7, 2025/Alice Waithera

Kamau said two other protesters are currently in the ICU at the hospital while another protester underwent surgery.

"Doctors said that one had a bullet lodged too close to the heart. The other was to be referred to KNH, but they have said it's full. Others were admitted to hospitals near Kangari town," he added.

A spot check at the hospital confirmed that two patients had been admitted with gunshot wounds, even as medics declined to grant an interview.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that two more protesters sustained gunshot wounds during confrontations with the police, while two others were allegedly shot at in Kangema.

Protesters continued to engage police in running battles until after 9 pm in Murang’a and Kangema towns.

In Kangema, protests started at 7 pm, catching residents by surprise after a peaceful day.

But County Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha said he was yet to receive reports of the injuries sustained in the county and that he is waiting for reports from police stations.

“We expected Saba Saba demonstrations to be peaceful and calm. We had a few pockets of chaos in the county, but most areas were calm,” he said.

He lauded security officers for deterring many incidents of chaos that had been planned by protestors.

Nkanatha said reports of youths being transported into Murang’a county on Sunday evening are being investigated, and that appropriate action will then be taken.

“We can’t allow people to destroy private property that their owners have taken years to establish. There is a supermarket with two branches at Kabati and Kenol that were looted today and we will have arrested the culprits by Tuesday morning.”