Families Mourn Loved Ones Killed by Stray Bullets During June 25 Protests

 

By Ruth Sang

Grief hangs heavy in several homes across Kenya as families mourn the deaths of loved ones killed by stray bullets during the anti-Finance Bill protests held on June 25, 2024—a day now etched in sorrow for many.

In Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, the family of Timothy Bwibo, a 29-year-old father of two, is struggling to come to terms with his untimely death. According to relatives, Timothy was not part of the protests. He was simply walking home from work when he was reportedly shot in the stomach amid chaos between demonstrators and police.

He was rushed to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in critical condition and fought for his life for four days before passing away on Friday night.

His wife, Phyllis Chemtai, emotionally recalled the moment she received a call from his phone—expecting it to be her husband—but was instead greeted by a chilling message from a doctor:

“Tim ameshootiwa.”

Still in disbelief, Chemtai emphasized that her husband was an innocent passerby caught in the crossfire.

Timothy’s father, Michael Bwibo, remembered his son as a dedicated and hardworking man, with a strong spirit and a deep love for manual labor.

“He was a young man full of promise. We did a lot of work together. I trained him on how to use his hands. He was a very strong boy.”

His mother, Evelyn Auma, shared Timothy’s heartbreaking final words to her as he lay in a hospital bed fighting for his life:

“Mama usichoke, mama usichoke.”

The family is now demanding answers from authorities, insisting that Timothy’s death was avoidable and a gross miscarriage of justice.

A similar tragedy has struck a family in Bungoma County, where 21-year-old Kenneth Ouma was fatally shot in Karatina Town. Kenneth had sought refuge inside a gym as protests turned violent, only to be struck by a stray bullet. His family has vowed to pursue justice.

Former Defence Cabinet Secretary and DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa visited Ouma’s family and promised legal support:

“We are committing a strong legal team to look for justice for Kenneth Ouma.”

Meanwhile, in Nairobi, the family of Victor Otieno, a 22-year-old student at Thika Technical Training Institute, is appealing for assistance to transport his body home to Bungoma for burial. His father, Patrick Oduor, shared the family's financial struggles:

“Hatuna uwezo wa kumpeleka nyumbani. Tunaomba msaada ya wale wanaweza kusaidia.”

The tragic deaths of Timothy, Kenneth, and Victor are part of a larger national crisis. According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), at least 19 people lost their lives during the June 25 protests. The report has sparked public outrage and intensified pressure on the government over the alleged use of live ammunition against unarmed civilians.

Human rights organizations and opposition leaders have condemned the police response, calling for independent investigations and urgent reforms within the National Police Service to prevent such tragedies from recurring.