Grief and outrage in Matuu as families demand justice for police shooting victims

Families of the victims of police shootings in Matuu town, Machakos County in which two people were left dead and six others seriously injured have condemned the police brutality and demanded justice for their loved ones.

In what the residents have described as the deadliest confrontation between law enforcers and civilians ever to be witnessed in Yatta constituency’s political and commercial capital, the aftermath of Gen Zs first anniversary demonstrations has left a trail of agony, misery and untold trauma among locals.

Victoria Mutheu, the mother of 21-year-old William Musyimi Mutevu who was fatally shot by the police during the explosive confrontation says her life is now shattered following her son’s sudden death.

Speaking from her home in Kikule village in Matuu, the mother of eight said the killing of her son by the police was her most painful life experience, casting doubts as to whether she will ever recover from the trauma.

“My son was not armed. He was a hustler struggling to make ends meet, just like the many other youths out there. Now he is no more. The most painful thing is knowing that he was killed by the Government that we voted to power. I will never recover from this loss,” Mutheu told The Standard yesterday in a telephone interview.

She went on, “Each minute I remember that I will never see him alive again, my heart bleeds. All I need is an explanation from the Government as to why my son, unarmed, had to die.”

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The mother of eight says on the fateful day, she was called at around 11.00 am and briefed that her son had been injured and rushed to Matuu Mission hospital.

“I hurriedly rushed to the hospital and on arrival, I sensed something was wrong. My instincts were right. I was led straight to where my son lay dead,” she said.

She said although her son will not come back to life again, she expects justice to be served upon the police officer who triggered the bullet that terminated her son’s life.

“The doctor who received my son told us he had three bullet wounds on his stomach. I also noticed he bled excessively from where he laid,” she said.

The body of another middle-aged man who succumbed to bullet injuries while undergoing treatment at Matuu level 4 hospital is yet to be identified.

According to Matuu level 4 hospital administrator, nine patients were brought in, six of them with bullet-inflicted injuries.

“One of the patients who sustained very severe injuries in the stomach was pronounced dead on arrival. We are working tirelessly to stabilize the rest and we are hopeful they will be out of danger,” he said.

At the same time, Richard Mulwa, the uncle of another casualty, Eric Mulwa who sustained a severe bullet injury in the head has called for action against the police officers who shot his nephew, who has since been referred to Kitui level 5 hospital for specialized treatment.

In a telephone interview with The Standard, Mulwa said his nephew was shot 200 meters away from the police station across the road.

“The bullet entered through his back and exited from the stomach. He was a passerby who was not even involved in the demonstrations. Police must be held accountable for their actions,” he said.