In a heartbreaking and deeply troubling turn of events, the family of 21-year-old Brian Kimutai, one of the protesters fatally shot during the Saba Saba demonstrations on July 7, has accused Kenyan police officers of attempting to steal and cover up his death.
Standing outside the Kitengela Mortuary on Tuesday, July 8, Kimutai’s mother revealed disturbing details of the aftermath of her son’s shooting. She recounted a terrifying moment in which police officers allegedly conspired to seize her son’s body and erase any evidence of what had happened.
“After he was shot, we had a hard time with the police officers because they wanted to take off with the body. We were forced to take his body and flee because they wanted to destroy the evidence,” she said with grief and defiance.
According to the family, when they arrived at the mortuary to deposit the body, hospital staff refused to book it, citing the lack of an official police permit. Yet, when they returned to the police station to obtain the required paperwork, officers allegedly dismissed them.
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“The police told us they were tired. They asked us to come back the next day at 8am,” said the devastated mother.
On Tuesday morning, the officers finally issued an OB (Occurrence Book) number. But despite this, Kitengela Mortuary continued to refuse admission of the body, leaving the family in limbo, forced to wait with the lifeless body still inside their vehicle, more than 24 hours after the fatal shooting.
The chaos surrounding Brian’s death is part of a wider crisis in Kitengela, where protesters on Monday stormed the Kitengela Sub-County Hospital. They reportedly vandalized property and physically attacked staff and patients, a situation that caused nationwide outrage.
The Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society (KOGS) strongly condemned the invasion, noting that a mother undergoing a caesarean section was among those endangered during the assault.
“Of particular concern is the terrifying disruption of the hospital’s operating theatre while a mother was undergoing a caesarean section, a moment that should be safeguarded by the highest standard of medical protection and dignity,” KOGS stated.
In response, the Kajiado County Government issued a firm condemnation of the violence, calling on national security agencies to swiftly investigate and ensure that all perpetrators, whether protesters or security forces, are held accountable.
“We call on security agencies to investigate thoroughly, identify those involved, and ensure accountability under the rule of law,” the official statement read.
As the grieving family of Brian Kimutai seeks justice and dignity for their son, their story now serves as a powerful symbol of the deadly consequences of police brutality, systemic failure, and a healthcare system caught in the crossfire.
