A month after being admitted to Nyeri Referral Hospital with severe injuries sustained during anti-government protests, the body of John Thuku remains unclaimed.....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
John Thuku, reportedly a young protestor, was brought to the hospital on June 25, following violent clashes between demonstrators and police in Nyeri.
The protests, sparked by opposition to the controversial Finance Bill 2024, quickly escalated into chaos. Witnesses say police employed tear gas and live ammunition to disperse the crowds, leading to numerous injuries and fatalities.
Dr Benson Ngari, Superintendent at Nyeri Referral Hospital, detailed the grim events, “He came here on June 25, 2024, and was admitted briefly in our medical wards and then went to the ICU, where he succumbed.”
Thuku spent a month in the intensive care unit before his death, during which he only managed to provide his name before losing consciousness. Despite the hospital’s best efforts, no one has come forward to claim his body or provide any information about his background.
“He was brought into a semi-conscious state and just told us his name. We assumed that was his name, and he lost consciousness shortly after. No one has come to claim his body,” Ngari added.
The unclaimed body, lying in the hospital’s morgue, raises concerns that Thuku’s relatives may not be aware of his fate. The hospital has appealed to the public for assistance in identifying and locating his family.
“We want to appeal to those who might know him, especially his relatives, to come and collect his body,” the hospital urged.
Thuku’s death is part of a broader, tragic narrative. According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, at least 61 people have died in the protests, with accusations of excessive force and live rounds being used against predominantly peaceful protesters.
This situation has intensified scrutiny on President William Ruto, who is facing mounting pressure from civil rights groups.
Activists and civil rights organisations, including Hussein Khalid of Voice Africa and Anami Toure of the Mukuru Community Justice Center, have vowed to hold President Ruto accountable. They plan to present a comprehensive list of those missing or killed during the protests to the Office of the President this week.
“We will take the President at his word and present this list, demanding that the government takes immediate and concrete actions to address the reported violations and arrest the killer cops,” asserted Khalid….CLICK HERE FOR MORE ARTICLE>>>
