In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…
- The National Police Service released the body of 12-year-old Kennedy Onyango to his mother for burial, but a court order obtained by the boy’s alleged biological father halted the burial.
- A postmortem revealed Kennedy died from a single gunshot wound, not eight as initially reported, amid ongoing investigations into his death during anti-government protests.
The National Police Service (NPS) has dismissed claims of refusing to release the body of 12-year-old Kennedy Onyango, who was killed during anti-government protests in Ongata Rongai, for burial in Mbita on Saturday.
Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome confirmed that the boy’s body was indeed released to his mother on Thursday for burial.
However, the burial could not proceed as planned due to a family dispute. The boy’s alleged biological father, Denish Okinyi Abaga, moved to court and obtained an order to stop the burial.
“Contrary to the misleading reports circulating on social media that the National Police Service has stopped the burial of the late Kennedy Onyango in Mbita Constituency, we wish to clarify to the public that the body was released to the mother, Josinter Anyango Ochieng, for burial on July 4, 2024,” Koome stated.
“The body was moved to Mbita for burial but upon arrival on July 5, 2024, one Denish Okinyi Abaga claiming to be the biological father of the boy appeared with a court order stopping the burial after he demanded to bury the boy.”
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Koome explained that the court order directed the police to move the body to the Suba mortuary pending further court directions.
“Apparently, the Civil Suit No. 0028 of 2024 filed at Mbita Law Courts ordered the police to move the body to Suba Sub-County Hospital Funeral Home for preservation, and the OCS Mbita Police Station complied with the order,” he noted.
Additionally, Koome revealed that, contrary to reports that the boy was shot eight times, a postmortem examination indicated that he died from a single gunshot wound.
“This was after carrying out the postmortem by pathologist Dr. Ndegwa P.M., with the outcome indicating that the boy died due to a single gunshot wound at long range,” stated Koome.
He urged the public to remain calm as the court addresses the burial dispute.
Dr. Peter Ndegwa, the government pathologist who conducted the postmortem at Ongata Rongai Sub-County Hospital Funeral Home, confirmed that the bullet had shattered the boy’s arteries and punctured his lungs.
Kennedy’s family recounted that he left the house that fateful day to pick up a book he was sharing with a neighboring classmate.
Tragically, he was allegedly shot as the protests escalated into violence, gunfire, and looting.
During an interview on Sunday, President William Ruto commented on the Rongai protests, stating that they were infiltrated by goons who even took a gun from a police officer and shot into crowds.
He assured that investigations would reveal whether the boy was shot by the police or by the goons.