“We Can’t Bury Him”: Family of Slain DCI Officer’s Son Breaks Silence After Saba Saba Killing as Death Toll Hits 43

The family of James Gachara, a teenage high school student gunned down during the chaotic Saba Saba Day protests, is pleading for help as they struggle to settle medical bills and arrange his burial. 

Gachara, the son of a Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer stationed in Meru County, was fatally shot on Monday, July 7, in Nanyuki. Eyewitness footage captured the horrifying moment a man believed to be a police officer fired into a group of protesters. Gachara was struck in the chaos and later succumbed to his injuries in hospital. 

The boy’s death has ignited grief, anger, and calls for justice, not just from his family but from an entire town gripped by unrest. 

“We can’t bury our son because we don’t have the means,” said a family representative. “We are calling on the government and well-wishers to stand with us in this dark moment.” The family has launched a public appeal for support to offset the hospital bills and arrange a proper burial. 

Gachara’s killing is among the growing number of casualties from the July 7 Saba Saba demonstrations that shook several parts of Kenya. According to Haki Africa, a leading human rights group, the protests have left at least 43 people dead across 10 counties. Nairobi recorded the highest death toll at 10, followed by Kiambu (9), Kajiado (6), Murang’a (5), and Embu (5). 

Tensions in Nanyuki have continued to rise, especially after another youth, Julia Njoki Wangui, also died under troubling circumstances.  

Njoki was reportedly arrested during the protests and died while in police remand. Her grandmother, leading a group of angry locals, protested in the streets on July 14 demanding accountability. 

The National Police Service (NPS) responded to the public outcry with a statement confirming that Njoki was among 126 individuals arrested on Saba Saba Day.  

However, they refrained from detailing the cause of her death and denied any wrongdoing, insisting that no investigations into police misconduct were underway. 

The government’s silence and the growing list of young victims have ignited outrage across the country, as families like the Gacharas are left grappling with loss, trauma, and injustice. 

Rights groups and concerned citizens are now demanding independent investigations into all protest-related deaths, transparency from the police, and urgent support for affected families. 

As the nation mourns, the voices of grieving parents and guardians are growing louder, seeking not just assistance, but answers and accountability.