The ODM party has sent condolences to the family of an engineer who set himself on fire in Mombasa on Thursday.
The young man, later identified as Robert Gituhu, 28, justified his drastic action at the expense of living and “stolen” poll results in a video that went viral.
“If maize flour prices are not reduced, I better die,” he was heard saying in the video.
“Raila’s win was stolen,” he is then repeatedly heard saying.
A few hours after setting himself on fire at the Jomo Kenyatta Roundabout in the Mwembe Tayari neighbourhood, Gituhu passed away at the Coast General Hospital where he was rushed for treatment.
His death was described as a terrible loss by the ODM party in a statement on Saturday.
“The pain of losing a loved one as a result of empty promises by those in power. Gituhu had hopes in life, a vision and dreams, the only thing he needed was an enabling environment by the government to fulfil them,” the party said in a statement.
“Sad he had to take his own life. To family and friends, poleni sana.”
Before ascending to the top of a statue placed in the centre of the roundabout, Gituhu covered his body in paraffin.
He continued ranting, threatening to burn himself before starting the fire despite appeals from the astonished curious bystanders, all the while carrying the Kenyan flag in his left hand.
The hospital’s medical staff estimated that he suffered over 80% burns. BY MPASHO NEWS