Tears flow as student mowed down by police at demo buried

Emotions ran high and tempers flared during the somber burial of 17-year-old Dennis Njuguna Ngugi, a Form Four student who was fatally shot by police during the recent GenZ-led protests in Molo Town.

The burial, held in Turi, was marked by grief, anger, and political undertones, as mourners and local leaders condemned the killing and demanded justice.

A section of students from Njenga Karume Secondary School, where Dennis studied, walked approximately 30 kilometers on foot to attend the funeral.

Many were overcame with emotion, weeping openly as they paid their last respects to their fallen colleague.

Dennis was shot in the head along the Molo–Njoro Road during a police operation to disperse demonstrators protesting against the government. Eyewitnesses say he was shot at close range.

Speaker after speaker at the funeral took aim at the police, accusing them of using excessive force on unarmed demonstrators. Calls for the arrest and prosecution of the officer responsible were loud and consistent.

Protest peacefully

“We demand justice for Dennis and all those injured. The youth have a constitutional right to protest peacefully without being met with bullets,” said Nairobi lawyer and former State House official Dann Mwangi.

Nakuru gubernatorial hopeful Geoffrey Mwangi criticized what he called a disturbing rise in extrajudicial killings under the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Nakuru-based politician Peter Mbae also weighed in, urging the government to respect the rights of citizens to dissent.

 “Instead of instilling fear, abducting, or killing those who criticize UDA’s style of leadership, the government should listen to the people,” he said.

Accountability demand

Local Members of County Assembly (MCAs) Joseph Ngware, John Mwangi, and Njuguna Mwaura echoed the demand for accountability, urging swift investigations and prosecution of the officer involved.

As tears flowed, Dennis’ mother, Jacinta Gathoni Ngugi, eulogized her son as a hardworking and obedient young man full of dreams and potential.

“As a family, we have watched you grow into a fine young man. It breaks my heart that your journey on earth ended so soon, leaving echoes in our hearts,” she said through sobs.

Bishop Samuel Karimi of the Pentecostal of God Church called for calm, urging youths to abandon street protests and instead register as voters.

“By registering in large numbers, young people will have the power to elect leaders who reflect their aspirations,” he said.

Meanwhile, a priest in Kisii Catholic Diocese has challenged GenZ protesters to shun looting shops and destroying peoples’ properties, saying it is wrong and uncalled for.

Father Richard Nyangoto said youths have a right to demonstrate to air their grievances to the government to address them but it is necessary for them to respect other peoples’ properties.

Condemning last week’s Gen Z demonstrations in some parts of the country by gen Z to commemorate their colleagues allegedly killed by security officers, he challenged the youths not to violate the rights of innocent persons going on with their businesses.

“I was touched when the youths told a widow to leave her stall assuring her of its safety, only to loot it after she had left” Father Nyangoto told the faithful at Cathedral church yesterday, adding, protests are supposed to be peaceful.

The Priest noted the widow told the press she had borrowed money from a Group and it will be difficult for her to get other money to stock her business and continue with her business.

He appealed to the youths to embrace Christian values to guide them make proper decisions when they are holding demonstrations, noting, it was wrong to steal and destroy properties of innocent traders and impoverish them.

“I urge Kenyans to pray for the country. Those protesters who looted and destroyed properties of the traders should apologize” Father Nyangoto told the faithful, stressing, the traders have a right to do business and own property as enshrined in the constitution.

The Cleric challenged Christians who take part in the protests to be careful not to engage in unlawful activities which will negate their faith and spiritual lives, saying, it is wrong to steal or destroy other peoples’ properties. During the protests, a police station, a law court and several vehicles were torched while  at least 15 people lost their lives across the country.

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