Kin take bodies of victims killed during Nasa protests
Nasa leader Raila Odinga addressing families of victims of alleged police brutality at City Mortuary on December 7, 2017. He asked the government to compensate them. PHOTO | ANDREW KILONZI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
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Among them was Mr Patrick Mutua, the family spokesman for Geoffrey Mutinda, who was killed by a stray bullet on November 28.
The seven-year-old boy was playing on the balcony at Pipeline Estate, Nairobi, during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s swearing-in.
Mr Odinga told the mourners that the person who killed Mutinda can best be described as a murderer.
Wailing rent the air at Chiromo Mortuary, Nairobi, Thursday as families of people who the opposition claimed were killed by police collected the bodies for burial.
They were allegedly killed during Nasa leader Raila Odinga’s return from a tour of the Unites States and Europe as well as election protests.
The families said some of the victims were not among the demonstrators.
Among them was Mr Patrick Mutua, the family spokesman for Geoffrey Mutinda, who was killed by a stray bullet on November 28.
The seven-year-old boy was playing on the balcony at Pipeline Estate, Nairobi, during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s swearing-in.
HAUNT KILLERS
Speaking on behalf of the 16 bereaved families, Mr Mutua said the boy’s blood will haunt his killers.
“As a family, we are still asking ourselves why the young boy had to die,” said Mr Mutua.
“A boy who did not even know what politics is or what demonstration is. But we leave everything to God.”
Mr Odinga told the mourners that the person who killed Mutinda can best be described as a murderer.
“When you kill a young boy who was born when we ushered in the new Constitution, then the best term for you is a murderer and you’re not supposed to be with people in the society,” said Mr Odinga.
An emotional Ms Violet Awino Otieno recalled how her son Mr Elvis Otieno went to the shop in the morning but was killed by police at Kariobangi roundabout in Eastlands.
KIBERA
Ms Celestine Apondi narrated how her sister Josephine Achieng, 25, was killed in Kibera when Nasa leaders led by Siaya Senator James Orengo visited to console residents who were brutalised by police the previous night.
“My sister was humble and was not a hooligan,” said Apondi.
Mr Joshua Onyango lost his brother Kennedy Owino, 36, a mechanic at Makina, Kibera, on the day Mr Odinga returned.
My brother was not violent at all,” said Mr Onyango. “He did not drink alcohol and he did not even attend the rally addressed by Mr Odinga in Kibera but was killed by police while at his work place.”
Ms Laureen Achieng fought back tears as she mourned the family’s breadwinner, her elder brother George Owino, 40. As they started their journey to Alego in Siaya County, she worried about his two children as their mother died two years ago.
