A family in Kandara, Murang’a county, is demanding justice for their son, who was shot by the police in Juja during the demonstrations last week. 

Ian Muhindi is said to have been shot by the police at the top of a nine-storey building where he was staying in Juja. He was watching the protestors engage the police in running battles. 

He is said to have been in the company of the caretaker when he was shot in the head. With the help of the neighbours, the caretaker managed to get him to his car to rush him to the hospital. 

At the facility in Thika, he was given first aid, and a scan also revealed a bullet lodged near the brain. 

The medics here said Muhindi would require specialised surgery to remove the bullet and were referred to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).

One of his friends said the police at the Juja station refused to record the incident in order to process the OB number, which was needed by the hospital. 

The 33-year-old, however, died hours later after being admitted to KNH for the surgery. 

According to his mother, Agnes Wanjiku (right), her son was not in the protests but ended up being a casualty of the skirmishes. 

“He was at the rooftop watching the protests, and I don’t understand why a police officer would shoot him,” she said. 

Wanjiku said they have not gotten any communication from the government officer about the incident, adding that they want a clear explanation of what transpired leading to the death of her son. 

“We want justice for our son and answers why he was shot in the head, leading to his death,” she said. 

Wanjiku said the son was a key pillar in the family, and he was out to support everyone who needed his help. 

Muhindi becomes another victim of police brutality in the country, adding to the number of those who have been killed by bullets. 

As the family prepares for his burial, they are hoping to find answers they are desperately looking for to find closure over their son’s death. 

Muhindi fell victim to the police killings just like the street hawker Bonface Kariuki, who was also shot despite not being in the demos. 

Kariuki was shot at point-blank range in the head, but he succumbed to the injury 12 days later at the KNH. 

Though the two officers involved in the incident were arrested and arraigned in court, the family is hoping that justice for their son is going to prevail. 

His parents have been searching for answers as to why their son was shot by the police despite not being part of the demonstrations.

The 22-year-old, who was the only son in the family, was the pillar of his household that his siblings looked up for support.