A somber mood engulfed Ishiara Town in Mbeere North Constituency, Embu County, as hundreds of mourners on Friday gathered to bid farewell to one victim of a police shooting during protests over deplorable conditions at Ishiara Level 4 Hospital last week.
Morris Mugo Njoka, 32, who was laid to rest at his parents’ home on the outskirts of Ishiara Town, was fatally shot during the protests alongside Patrick Munene Kariuki, 21, who is set to be buried Saturday.
Mourners who spoke during the burial ceremony attended by leaders including Cabinet Secretary (CS) Public Service, Special Programmes and Human Capital Development Geoffrey Ruku called for speedy investigations and apprehension of the officers involved to ensure justice is served to his family.
They strongly condemned the incident, saying it was unfortunate for a life to be lost over a just cause in the clamor for better health services.
Father Atanasio Mwaniki, who conducted the mass, said besides getting justice in terms of apprehension and prosecution of the officers involved, it was also necessary for renovation of the facility to ensure his death was not in vain.
“Real justice for Morris will not only be holding the officers involved accountable but also fixing the facility that drove locals to the streets in the first place,” he said.
Area MP Leonard Muthende called on IPOA to fast-track investigations for the families to get justice quickly.
He further said the Sh3 million compensation money for protest victims proposed by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) was inadequate.
The legislator said justice was both prosecution for perpetrators and proper compensation for families, saying their proposed figure does not match the value of lives lost in protests.
On his part, CS Ruku assured the grieving families that justice will be served as mourners, families, and the clergy pressed for accountability over the shooting.
“I want to make a commitment from the government that justice will be done for the families of Morris and Patrick,” he stated.
By Samuel Waititu
