By Peter Ochieng
As the dust settles on the demos staged in various parts of the country against the controversial Finance Bill, 2024 on Thursday, police in Nairobi are on the spot for allegedly shooting dead a 24-year-old man.
Rex Kanyike was allegedly shot in the knee outside Hilton Hotel along Nairobi’s Moi Avenue, as he was dashing home around 7pm.
He died at Bliss Medical Centre as a result of excessive bleeding, with his body lying at the City mortuary awaiting postmortem.
Activist Boniface Mwangi visited the morgue and shared photo of Rex’s body, receiving backlash and support in equal measure on social media.
In his defence, he said he had the express permission from the late Rex’s parents to share the photos.
“I’m sharing pictures of 24-year-old Rex Kanyike lying the in morgue with consent from his parents, Chrispin Odawa and Gillian Munyao who are standing over his body at the City Mortuary. He was killed by the police. They’re shocked and numb from the loss of their son.”
The 24-year-old’s is the first incidence of death since anti-finance bill protests started on Tuesday.
On the first day of the protests, a police officer lost both his fore arms when a teargas canister exploded on his hands.
A police report said he was injured, after he delayed to release the canister while engaging with protestors.
“As a result his two hands were severely injured from the wrist losing both fore arms.
The injured officer is attached to the the Administration Police, Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU).
A colleague who was near him sustained minor injuries on her chest.
Demos against President William Ruto’s stringent tax measures have been spearheaded by Kenya’s young people alias the millennials and Gen-Z, mobilised through various social media platforms.