Shot Dead: Family Demands Justice
Emotions were running high during the postmortem examination of James Muriithi Kamoni, a 41-year-old man who tragically lost his life after being shot during the Saba Saba protests in Makutano, Mwea, Kirinyaga County.
The government pathologist reported that Muriithi died from a gunshot wound to the stomach, which led to severe internal bleeding.
He passed away on July 9, 2025, at Kenyatta National Hospital, where he had been moved from White Rose Private Hospital in Mutithi. He had been in the Intensive Care Unit since the day of the shooting.
Muriithi’s wife, Jane Njeri Muriithi, is on a quest for justice for her late husband, who was tragically shot by officers from the Makutano Police Station, situated near the Kirinyaga–Embu border in Mbeere South.
The family has expressed their frustration over the challenges they encountered while trying to obtain a police Occurrence Book (OB) number from the Makutano Police Station. Bernard Gikunju Ndung’u, the deceased’s cousin and family spokesperson, stated that the officers at the station initially refused to grant them access to the OB report.
“We were only able to get the OB number last night after the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) intervened,” said Gikunju.
Muriithi’s mother, Janet Wangari Kamoni, broke down in tears as she recounted her son’s final moments. She insisted that Muriithi was not participating in the protests at the time of the shooting. “My son was killed while buying a sack to pack cabbages. He sold cabbages at the Makutano market,” she said.
James Muriithi Kamoni was laid to rest in Makutano. A detective from Mwea Sub-County in Mbeere South, who was present at the burial, informed the family that a public inquest into the incident would be initiated. The family has been advised to visit Karaba Police Station on Friday to provide their statements.
Now, the family is urging the government to take prompt action and ensure that those responsible for Muriithi’s death are held accountable.
Shot Dead: Family Demands Justice
