Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has called upon Kenyans to support the family of Rex Kanyike Maasai, who was fatally killed in Nairobi on Thursday evening.
The incident unfolded around 7 pm along Moi Avenue where protesters had gathered to voice their opposition to the contentious bill. What began as a peaceful assembly quickly turned violent, resulting in the loss of a young life. Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, who joined Maasai’s family at the City Mortuary for the post-mortem, articulated the profound impact of this tragedy. He emphasized the devastating cost of Maasai’s sacrifice, lamenting the loss of a life cut short in its prime while fighting for a better future.
Details surrounding Maasai’s death are still emerging with an aerial video capturing the moment of the shooting. The protest had initially been dispersed from other locations, with demonstrators regrouping outside Moi Avenue. Music from a nearby club provided a soundtrack to the protesters’ dance of defiance. This display of frustration and determination was abruptly shattered when a plainclothes police officer reportedly opened fire on the crowd.
Maasai, struck in the leg, fell to the ground calling for help. His fellow protesters rushed him to Bliss Hospital Moi Avenue but despite medical intervention, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The incident has sparked outrage and grief across Kenya with citizens demanding justice and reaffirming the right to peaceful protest. Human rights groups have claimed that at least 200 individuals sustained injuries during Thursday’s demonstrations in Nairobi. According to a statement released by Amnesty International and five other human rights organisations, the reported injuries range from soft tissue damage and tear gas inhalation.
The statement further reveals that approximately 50 of the total injured have been transferred to specialised medical facilities in Nairobi for further treatment. The groups involved in the statement include the Kenya Medical Association, Law Society of Kenya, Defenders Coalition, Independent Medical Legal Unit, and Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. Additionally, the statement confirms that five individuals suffered injuries from rubber bullets, tear gas canisters, and baton charges, while six others were hit by vehicles as they fled from police dispersals.
The joint statement also reports the recovery of spent cartridges, indicating the occurrence of live shootings. Furthermore, the groups have reported the arrest of 35 individuals across various counties, with Nairobi recording the highest number at 20, followed by Garissa (1), Kisumu (3), Vihiga (4), Narok (4), Uasin Gishu (1), and Nakuru (2).
