My only son was shot dead while rushing home to take care of his ailing wife, he was not protesting

Sammy Mwandikwa, a 27 year old born in Itungali village, Mwingi Central had lived in Nairobi for less than a month after securing a job as a driver. 

According to his family members, he had dropped his boss at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and was shot few metres from his house. 

The frustrated family said their son was not part of the demos and was rushing home to take care of his ailing wife, whom he had married three months ago.

“I loved him so much and they had gotten married less than three months ago. We continue mourning as a family. It was not our hope for him to die but to live long as we had hopes and aspirations. I know he was killed by the government so I want them to compensate so that we’ll continue remembering him,”  Eunice Peter, Sammy’s mother in law, said.

Monica says her daughter in law called late hours of Tuesday informing her Sammy had not arrived in the house and his phone was off. Upon days of search with the help of his employer, he was found at the City mortuary, lifeless.

She appeals to the government to take action on the police officers responsible and also compensate all families who have lost their loved ones during the protests. 

“He was my only son and after finishing school he went to look for a job less than a month ago. Then this Tuesday night, I was called by his wife who informed me that he had not returned to the house. We kept calling his phone but it went unanswered," Monica noted. 

"On Thursday is when he was found at City Mortuary with a gunshot wound. He was my source of hope and livelihood as his father left me when Sammy was young. I aspired him to help me after getting a job. I plead with the government to help me pay school fees for other kids."

On Tuesday, two people were shot dead and five motorcycles were torched during the demonstrations in Mlolongo. Witnesses said that the duo died due to gunshot wounds inflicted by police officers. 

Members of the public rushed the victims to hospital but were pronounced dead on arrival at a private health facility along Biashara Street in Mlolongo town.