Mechanic Moses Munene and Footballer Lewis Munene /HANDOUTTwo young men who died during the Nembure Stadium chaos in Embu county last week succumbed to gunshot wounds, a postmortem examination shows.
Boda boda operator Moses Munene, 30, and footballer Mike Lewis, 23, lost their lives after chaos rocked the UDA delegates meeting that was chaired by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and attended by Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire.
The two died when police fired at villagers.
The postmortem was conducted by pathologists Rosemary Kamau from Embu Level Five Hospital who represented the government and Dr Job Mwali representing the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU).
The findings shared with media showed Munene suffered a single gunshot wound to the head that also exited, leaving behind extensive damage to the brain and cranial fractures.
“We have concluded that the cause of death was severe head injury secondary to a single penetrating gunshot wound to the head,” Dr Rosemary said.
The bullets were not recovered.
Lewis suffered a single gunshot wound to the right leg which caused a compound fracture with massive collection of blood outside of the damaged blood vessels also referred to as haematoma.
“The cause of death for Mike Lewis was severe haemorrhage secondary to compound right femur fracture as a result of a single penetrating gunshot wound,” Rosemary said.
No bullets were recovered from both bodies because they had passed through leaving both entry and exit wounds.
The findings come as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the shooting of the two victims during the chaos.
Family members who witnessed the postmortem exercise expressed deep pain over the loss of their loved ones and called for justice. They demanded that those responsible be held accountable.
The families asked authorities to ensure a thorough investigation is conducted to establish how the shootings occurred.
Human Rights advocates from VOCAl Africa Raskin Oyugi said it was unfortunate that political meetings and rallies had become places where young Kenyans are killed.
He appealed to the government to organise a training for police officers on crowd control while also calling on IPOA to conduct thorough investigations.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority has already opened inquiries into the deaths. The authority said its investigators were recording statements from witnesses and examining police firearm-discharge records from the day of the violence.
IPOA commissioner John Muchiri said they will establish what happened and take action if officers were found to have used excessive force.
“We are waiting for the investigations report to be handed over to the ODPP so that we can take the matter from there to see whether there was excessive use of force by police. If we find any police to have used excessive force, then those responsible will be held accountable,” he said.
The deaths occurred after youths who were outside the stadium clashed with police during the restricted UDA meeting.
Police said the trouble began when some villagers attempted to force their way into the meeting, which was attended only by invited delegates and UDA polling centre officials.
Eastern regional police commander Stephen Chebet said several people were injured in the confrontation, including three police officers. He said six vehicles were burnt and others damaged.
Police used tear gas as the confrontation spread outside the stadium. They also fired bullets into the crowd, witnesses said.
Munene, who is from Mutunduri in Manyatta constituency, was on his way to work when the violence broke out, according to earlier reports. Lewis, a footballer and college student, had gone to play football near Nembure when he was caught up in the clashes.
Their families have said the two were not involved in the confrontation and want authorities to establish how they ended up being shot.
“We want to know who shot our children and why. We want justice,” a family member said.
