A postmortem examination conducted on Thursday has confirmed that a 32-year-old man killed during Monday’s nationwide anti-fuel price protests in Kiambu town died from a gunshot wound fired from a distant range, piling pressure on investigative agencies to identify and prosecute the officer behind the shooting.
The autopsy on Martin Rigii, also referred to by family members as Rige, was conducted at St Teresiah Hospital mortuary in Thindigwa Estate, Kiambu county, in the presence of government pathologists, independent medical experts, human rights groups and officers from investigative agencies.
Government pathologist Dr Peter Ndegwa established that the bullet was fired from a distant range, dismissing claims that the deceased may have been shot at close range during the chaotic demonstrations witnessed in Kiambu town on Monday.
The findings now form a key part of investigations being conducted by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) into the fatal shooting that has sparked outrage among human rights groups and legal representatives.
Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Kiambu chapter vice-chairperson and family lawyer Munene Warutere said the bullet caused extensive internal injuries after entering through the right shoulder before exiting through the back on the left side.
“The cause of death, as established by the doctor, is haemorrhage caused by the bullet wound,” Warutere said after the examination.
"The bullet entered through the right shoulder and exited through the back on the left side. There was excessive bleeding, and critical internal organs, including the lung, were severely damaged.”
Officials from IPOA, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) and Vocal Africa attended the exercise as pressure mounted on authorities to fast-track investigations into the killing.
Relatives of the deceased welcomed the findings of the postmortem, saying it had finally confirmed their kin died from a gunshot wound, but maintained that the family would only find closure once those responsible are held accountable.
“We are satisfied with the doctor’s postmortem because we have seen that, truly, he was killed by a bullet,” said Francis Kaliba Kamau, a cousin of the deceased. “The only thing we ask for now is justice. Let the person who killed him face action.”
Warutere faulted the conduct of security officers during the demonstrations, accusing police of violating constitutional protections while dealing with protesters demanding economic relief over rising fuel prices.
He said the deceased was a young man whose life had been cut short by officers mandated to protect citizens and uphold the Constitution.
The lawyer further disclosed that the LSK was already preparing to move to court over the killing, insisting that civil proceedings for wrongful death do not have to wait for criminal investigations to be concluded.
“There is already a precedent from the High Court and the Court of Appeal that a petition for wrongful death is not dependent on the final outcome of criminal investigations,” Warutere stated. “We can move to court immediately seeking compensation and declarations of wrongful death by a state organ.”
The killing in Kiambu is among several deaths reported during Monday’s nationwide demonstrations sparked by sharp increases in fuel prices that paralysed transport and business activities across multiple counties.
Human rights activist Khalid Hassan said civil society groups were currently documenting at least 17 deaths linked to the protests in areas including Kiambu, Nairobi, Kitengela and parts of western Kenya.
According to Hassan, most victims were young people who had joined demonstrations to push for economic relief amid the rising cost of living.
He also challenged transport sector leaders who have since initiated talks with the government over fuel-related grievances, urging them not to forget families mourning relatives killed during the protests.
“We are appealing to IPOA to move with speed, review CCTV footage, and record statements from witnesses who were present,” Hassan said. “We cannot continue with a system where citizens are killed, compensation is offered, and trigger-happy officers walk free.”
Civil society groups further claimed that witnesses in Kiambu town may already know the specific officer suspected of firing the fatal shot, increasing pressure on IPOA to expedite investigations and recommend prosecutions if evidence links any officer to the killing.
Activists and legal representatives also warned against attempts to substitute criminal accountability with compensation, maintaining that those responsible must personally face the law if investigations establish police involvement in the shooting.
Investigations into the fatal shooting are ongoing.
