A 19-year-old boy has succumbed to injuries he sustained during the anti-government demonstrations on Thursday, March 30, 2023.
Jamleck Mwanza passed on at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in Nairobi where he was receiving treatment.
A doctor who was treating Mwanza said the patient died from a brain haemorrhage due to the head injuries he sustained during the protests.
Mwanza’s parents told the media that the deceased had gone missing for days before, they found him at KNH on Saturday, April 1.
“I am saddened because he was my first born and I was working hard so that he can go to school,” Mwanza’s mother said.
The mother urged the opposition and the government to settle their differences amicably to avoid street protests, which claimed the life of her son.
” I wish politicians would sit down and talk instead of going to the streets because many people get hurt and some are children.”
The incident comes a week after Azimio leader Raila Odinga suspended weekly protests to allow the opposition to engage in dialogue with President William Ruto’s administration.
Raila’s declaration followed Ruto’s proposal for consideration of a bi-partisan parliamentary engagement to address Azimio’s concerns regarding the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
“We acknowledge Mr. Ruto’s olive branch for a dialogue on the key issues raised by Azimio La Umoja. To us, this a positive development,” Raila stated, adding that the decision to stand down on demonstrations was also influenced by calls from the clergy who implored the opposition to give dialogue a chance, especially during the holy periods of Easter and Ramadhan.
“…In view of the foregoing, we stand down our demonstrations for Monday, April 3, 2023,” Raila said on Sunday, April 2.
Raila said a balanced parliamentary process co-chaired by both sides and backed by experts was an appropriate way to deal with the stalemate that saw the opposition call for anti-government protests twice a week – on Mondays and Thursdays – to pressure the government to address its grievances that also included the current high cost of living.
At least three people including a police officer lost their lives and property of unknown value destroyed during the opposition’s two-week demonstrations.
