Protester who was shot dead by police in Mlolongo booked at City Mortuary as victim of mob justice

The late Samuel Mutisya, who was shot in the streets of Mlolongo during anti-government protests and taken to the City Mortuary, has now been confirmed to have died from a gunshot wound to the head, and not due to mob justice as recorded at the facility.

After a week of postmortems and identification of the bodies of those who died from gunshots on July 16, 2024, it has now emerged that the person shot on the streets of Mlolongo, Machakos County, was Mutisya.

“Alikuwa anatoka kazi kazini pale Syokimau…alipigwa pale Mlolongo akitembea,” said Solomon Musyoki, a close friend of the deceased.

Citizen TV also travelled to the scene of the tragedy and uncovered some grim evidence.

According to the City Mortuary records, Mutisya was initially listed as an unknown person killed by way of mob justice.

“Hatutaki kuambiwa alipigwa na mob justice, Sammy alipigwa na risasi na nimedhibitisha,” added Musyoki.

After visiting Achudan Clinic where Mutisya was brought just minutes after being shot, to verify these claims, Franklin Muraguri, the clinician said he died between 6 to 8pm because of the profuse bleeding.

Witnesses claim he was shot in the middle of the road between the Cooperative Bank and Family Bank on Mlolongo Street.

At Shalom Hospital, Citizen TV found 18-year-old Daniel Mwaura who had stitches on his stomach after being shot on the same day of the protest.

“Nilikuwa nimetoka Kitengela…Mlolongo hakukuwa na maandamano, on my way home niliona askari amenipoint na bunduki , kutoroka ilinipata kwa tumbo,” lamented Mwaura.

Unlike Mutisya, who died from his injuries on last Tuesday, Mwaura describes the person who shot him.

Citizen TV investigators returned to the scene to verify his account and met George Oyugi, a motorcycle rider who was a witness to the incident.

He said, “Alipigwa kwa tumbo mpaka mara ikatoka inje…”

CCTV footage captured the incident where Oyugi can be seen on the day of the protest at around 4pm, transporting Mwaura from the shooting zone.

 “Nilitolewa kwa pikipiki nikaenda hapo stage…mama ndiye alinileta hospitali,” Mwaura added.

Mwaura's mother Pauline Mukulu remains at Shalom Hospital, struggling with her son's condition while pleading for help.

“Sina chochote kwa mfuko yangu,” she lamented.

Mwaura added, “Nataka kuomba Wakenya niko pabaya sana, nahitaji damu na kusaidiwa kulipa bill.”

Human rights organizations have emphasized that this is the time for authorities to evaluate the performance of IPOA to ensure that officers involved in crimes are prosecuted.

“The autopsy of Samuel will be done on Monday,” said Hussein Khalid, an activist at Vocal Africa.