Two men who went missing during anti-Finance Bill protests found killed in Mombasa

Two families are seeking justice after their kin were killed during the anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests that rocked the city of Mombasa.

Denis Otieno was found to have been shot three times, but his family maintains that he was not among the protesters on the day he died.

For more than 15 days the family has been searching for him. His mother Coleta Achieng and uncle George Omondi made calls with no response, only to receive a message of their son’s death through social media.

This prompted them to travel from Kitale to Mombasa, where they claim they found his body with three bullet wounds.

“Mtoto amepigwa risasi tatu, hata tunashindwa risasi moja hainge muuwa? Na serikali kweli kweli hakuna hatua inaweza chukuwa,” lamented Mr. Omondi.

The family maintains that the 26-year-old was not among the demonstrators on the day he met his death. Denis arrived in Mombasa less than a year ago after he secured employment in one of the companies in the Coastal town.

“Serikali naomba haki, mtoto aliuwawa kama kuku, mtoto hakuwa kwa maandamano... alikuwa ameenda nyumbani akapigwa risasi,” pleaded his mother Ms. Achieng.

At the same hospital, the family of Joash Ombati is mourning. Their son was shot dead by police.

The family arrived from Kisii and identified the body where a bullet was recovered from his lifeless body.

The deceased’s wife Lilian Ombati said: “Aliniacha nyumbani akija kutafutia familia… nimeambiwa amepigwa risasi. Sahii watoto sijui wataishi aje, sina mbele wala nyuma, babake ndio tegemeo kwa hiyo nyumba.”

Mathias Shipeta, a Rapid Response Officer at Haki Afrika, noted: “IPOA wamechukua risasi moja iliopatikana kwa mwili wa marehemu na itasaidia kwa uchunguzi.”

The security apparatus in Mombasa has since declined to comment on the matter.

The families are now calling on President William Ruto to ensure that all families that lost their loved ones are compensated and justice delivered.