'Return the body': Villagers block burial of guard shot by police during protests

Villagers of Tabani in Tongaren, Bungoma County, blocked the burial of Fred Wanjala, a security guard shot dead by police on 25 June in Nairobi under unclear circumstances.

Wanjala, an employee of Hatari Security Services, met his death while guarding Stima Plaza in Nairobi. Police claimed he was killed by a stray bullet during the Gen-Z protests.

Locals demanded that the body be returned to the mortuary until the family gets justice.

The local Catholic catechist, Jonathan Biketi, had ended the mass service when he invited the area Chief, Solomon Masinde, to take over the programme.

Hell broke loose when the administrator invited any official from Wanjala's company to address mourners, prompting a negative response and villagers to call off the ceremony and order the body back to the mortuary.

"This is serious. The company where our son worked is not represented here. This burial has to stop until justice is served to the family," shouted John Simiyu, a villager.

Disappointed villagers raised concerns over the failure by the company to attend the burial despite Wanjala being one of the loyal employees.

"We don't understand why there is nobody from the company escorting his body from Nairobi," posed a villager.

Wanjala's body was ferried from the city mortuary to the village on Friday and was accompanied by friends.

Wanjala was recruited by the security firm in 2016, and the first station was Nakuru before being transferred to Kisumu.

From Kisumu, he was moved to Nairobi, where he met his death.

The villagers were provoked when Wanjala's elderly father, Robert Kwambo, narrated how the company had failed to honour its pledge to buy land where Wanjala was to be buried.

Kwambo, 75, who is landless, lives on his elder brother Peter Simiyu's land, which is less than a quarter of an acre.

He said the management of Hatari Security Services had promised to buy land for the family worth Sh200,000 and also donate 28 iron sheets to construct a house.

"When I travelled to Nairobi to establish how my son was killed, I visited the company offices and held talks with the top managers. I explained to them the poverty situation in my family and they offered to provide Sh200,000 for the purchase of land and donate 28 iron sheets for the construction of a house," the old man told mourners.

He said he was asked by the managers to come home and look for land worth Sh200,000 that the company intended to buy for the family.

"I came back home and identified the land and reported to the management, but the response was not accommodated. This is when I realised there is a problem," Kwambo told charged mourners.

The old man explained how he facilitated Wanjala's education by selling water in Kiminini market using a bicycle.

To the shocked mourners, Kwambo told how he made several trips to Mitoto Water Spring and delivered water to his clients in Kiminini.

From the earnings of Sh60 per day, Kwambo was able to pay the fee for his son to complete high school.

"When he completed Form Four and landed a job at the security firm, we had a lot of expectations that he was going to salvage us from poverty," he tearfully explained.

The late Wanjala had said his father had promised to buy land and build a house for the family this July.

"My son had promised to buy land and build a good house for the family, but instead they brought and dumped his body here," he soberly said.

Kwambo said Wanjala was the only child among the six in the family able to complete high school and secure a job.

Wanjala's widow, Mercyln Atieno, ignited more protests from mourners when she explained how it had been impossible to clear mortuary bills and transport the body back home due to lack of enough money.

"We only got support from Kenya Power Limited and friends, enabling us to clear hospital bills and transport the body here," she lamented.

Atieno said she had a burden to care for four children left behind by her husband.

After such a sad narrative, villagers in unison agreed that the burial be stopped until the concerns of the family are addressed.

Under the directive of the villagers, the body was returned to the hearse and ferried to Kiminini Cottage Mortuary in Trans-Nzoia.

"Now that the villagers have stopped the burial, let the body be transported to Kiminini for preservation," said Chief Masinde.

Some villagers especially escorted the body to the mortuary, leaving Wanjala's resting place unoccupied.

When The Standard visited the home on Sunday, it found the family and the entire village in a grieving mood. Kwambo was in too much pain to talk to The Standard over the worrying situation that has compounded the family.

Pointing to an unfilled grave outside his mud-walled house of six iron sheets, Kwambo pondered about the next moment.

"He was the only hope. My family is poor, and his death is tormenting my family," he said.

Kwambo said the government has not given him the reason why his son was killed since he was not involved in the protests.

"My son was on duty as a guard. Why did the police kill him? I need answers and justice," said Kwambo.

Robina Mukhwana, Wanjala's mother, said she needed justice for her son.

"He was not protesting. Why did the police shoot him dead? The government should be held accountable for his death," said the woman.

Martin Simiyu, Wanjala's elder brother, said the family is stressed with his brother's death.

Simiyu told The Standard that the family is supposed to pay expenses of Sh145,000.

"Those who rendered services to us during the aborted burial are demanding their money. We have a debt of Sh145,000 we are expected to clear," Simiyu told The Standard.

Patrick Wekesa, the secretary of the funeral committee, said that Wanjala's death is a big blow to the family dogged with poverty.

Wekesa asked the government to compensate the family for Wanjala's loss.

"This family is poor, and their hope was on Wanjala. Let the government provide justice for the death," said Wekesa.