His mother sent him out to a shop at around 8.30pm. He never returned.
On Thursday, the body of 14-year-old KCPE candidate Kennedy Maluni was transported to his ancestral home in Masongaleni, Kibwezi East sub-county, Makueni county, for burial.
Kennedy was butchered by machete-wielding juvenile gangsters in Mwamlai, Jomvu sub-county in Mombasa, on August 23.
His mother, Margaret Mbithe, is inconsolable.
“I was hoping he would help me when I am in old age. Now, instead, I am being helped by people like Mombasa Cement to transport his body home for burial. It hurts,” Mbithe said.
She does not think she will ever rest until Kennedy's killers are apprehended, prosecuted and jailed for robbing her of her last born.
His teachers at Vision of Hope Education Centre praised him as bright.
On Thursday human rights activists, the clergy, educationists and charity ambassadors joined the family in calling for justice for Kennedy, saying the police should arrest and prosecute his murderers.
Pastor Abednego Mutie of Pentecostal Worship Ministries, Jomvu, said it is sad to lose such a young, promising soul to machete-wielding juvenile gangsters.
“We are going to bury his body but we would only be satisfied when he gets justice. We would like to see his murderers in jail. We know God will help us and be with us throughout this journey for justice,” Pastor Mutie said.
Muslims for Human Rights rapid response officer Francis Auma said security apparatus should be proactive and help prevent such deaths by acting on every report that is taken to them by security stakeholders like village elders, Nyumba Kumi, chiefs and their assistansts.
Auma said the organisation will follow up on Maluni’s cases and ensure the perpetrators are brought to book.
Jomvu police boss Lydia Wanjiru said detectives arrested three people who are helping in investigations.
“We have the report, including the postmortem report that shows how Kennedy died. Young people are using all manner of drugs only to later turn wild and slash people to death and it is not only in Jomvu but other parts of Mombasa county too,” Auma said.
“We will ensure Kennedy and his family get justice. And this thing we hear of people trying to compromise this case must stop. All people should do their work diligently.”
Imtiaz Sayani called on security apparatus in Mombasa county to deal decisively with crime which he said is slowly creeping back into the society.
He said juvenile gangs are now slashing hard working Kenyans who go about their business as they try to eke out a living.
“Kennedy died such a painful death. It is not just for someone as young as Kennedy to die in such a manner.
“Today, it is young Kennedy. Tomorrow it will be you or me. Who will be our savior if the future generation is being wiped out by criminals?” Sayani posed.
He called on President William Ruto to ensure all Kenyans are safe.
“And we would like to see Kennedy and the family get justice. Let us not hear, tomorrow, that some things happened and the perpetrators of Kennedy’s death are roaming the streets instead of being in jail,” Sayani said.
Sayani said philanthropist Hamsukh Patel is ready to help ensure there is security in Jomvu and other parts of Mombasa county.
Patel is associated with the Mombasa Cement company which helped Maluni’s family clear the mortuary bills and transport the body to Makueni for burial on Friday.
Juma Lubambo, the director of Vision of Hope Education Centre, where Maluni was learning free of charge, said some of those mentioned to have been involved in his death are back in Mwamlai after having gone underground following his killing.
Lubambo said leaders in Mombasa county must be ready to help those in need.
“We have been standing with the family of Kenndey, crying together and asking for help from here and there including from Mombasa Cement who have come through for the family.
“It is not encouraging to see well-wishers do more for the people of Mombasa yet we have elected people in political offices,” Lubambo said.
He said Mbithe is a small scale fish vendor and she cannot immediately gather her strength to do her vending once she gets back to Mombasa after the burial of her last born.
“We ask the government to look into such issues. I feel for her and how she must be hurting inside,” Lubambo said.
He called on the national government to also tighten security in areas like Mwamlai so as to have residents live in peace.
“It saddens to see some of those mentioned as being involved in Kennedy’s death walking around freely,” Lubambo said.
He said if Maluni’s killers are not brought to book, it will discourage even well-wishers who have been going out of their way to help the bright but needy children in Mwamlai and other parts of Mombasa county.
