The family of 19-year-old Charles Owino, has revealed the last moments of the teenager following his demise on July 17.
Charles who completed his O levels in 2022 was shot in Kitengela, Kajiado County during the anti-tax protests while on his way to buy medicine from a nearby shop.
According to the family of the deceased, Owino had arrived from Siaya on Sunday and was visiting his brother on the fateful day.
However, on his way to get medicine from a nearby shop, Charles was caught up in the chaos and lost his way since he was new to the vicinity.
Speaking at the Nairobi Funeral Home (formerly City Mortuary) on July 17, Charles Owino’s brother George Otieno Oduor revealed that he was unwell and that the deceased went out to get medicine but never returned.
“Yesterday he told me that he was going to buy medicine because he was not feeling well, he still has the keys he carried. I thought my younger brother would come back home but I was waiting in vain,” George lamented.
According to George, police opened fire which resulted in his brother being shot in the head and succumbing to his injuries.
“Police opened fire from behind and it hit my brother, and my brother died on the spot,” Charles’s brother said.
Human rights organization HAKI Africa condemned the acts of police brutality on protestors that have led to serious injuries and death in some instances.
“No citizen deserves to die by a bullet that has been paid for by the taxpayers. This is our tax, the teargas they are using is from our taxes as well as the guns they use,” HAKI said.
Also Read: Mudavadi Forced to State Kenya’s Stand on Police Brutality
Family Reveals on Last Moments
Owino’s body was picked up during the Kitengela protest and brought to the City Mortuary on Tuesday.
However, when his family arrived, they discovered records indicating that Owino had been registered as an unidentified person from Juja.
Expressing concern over the oversight at a government mortuary, Charles’ brother questioned why the attendants could not locate Owino given that it is procedure that any deceased person is brought to the facility before their kin claims their body.
“What I know is no matter where someone dies, be it in an accident, in the river, or fire, they are brought to City Mortuary. How is it that our kin is not here?” George questioned.
Upon George’s persistence, the attendant retrieved a photo of Owino and confirmed his presence.
George then questioned why Owino was identified as a Juja accident victim despite having a clear gunshot wound.
“We confirmed that he is here, but they changed the details. They said he died in a road accident in Juja. Our boy was shot with a bullet that entered his forehead and exited through the back of his head. They know it very well,” he remarked.
Also Read: Nairobi City Mortuary on the Spot Over Fake Documents for Bodies Killed in Protests
City Mortuary on the Spot
Following the death of Charles Owino, concerns have emerged regarding records at the Nairobi City mortuary revealing that some bodies of victims killed in protests are documented as having died under different circumstances and locations.
Charles became yet another victim of police brutality during the anti-government protests. Additionally, two other bodies of protest victims were also misidentified.
According to reports, one was inaccurately linked to mob justice, while the other was recorded as a result of an accident in Juja.
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