Emotional farewell to Evans who died during Finance Bill protests

 

Farewell for Evans  who died during protests 

Evans Kiratu, 21, who died during anti-finance bill protests is being buried today June 28, 2024, in Kiambu county.

The young man was shot during Thursday, June 20 demonstrations led by youth (Gen Z) in Nairobi to push for the rejection of the contentious bill which had proposed additional taxes.

Mourners broke down while the mother fainted upon viewing the body of Evans whose life was cut short during the demos.

Following the deadly protests, the President has since declined to sign it setting the stage for its withdrawal.

A distraught Ann Wanjiru, who confirmed her son’s death, said she was informed by a Good Samaritan late on the night of June 22, 2024, that her son had been injured, only to rush and discover that her son had already died.

“He died after the canister exploded. I want the government to explain to me if we elected them to kill our children. I had hopes and dreams for him,” she said moments after identifying her son’s body.

The late Evans with the mum

After being injured, Kiratu was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital by a bystander who found him wounded on the street.

He was undergoing a plumbing course and was currently on placement.

Rex Kanyike Masai also died of gunshot wounds on the same day.

The death toll shot following Tuesday, June 25 demos after police opened fire on the unarmed protestors who stormed Parliament.

Hours later, Defence Minister Aden  Duale announced the deployment of the army to support the police in tackling “the security emergency” in the country.

Kenyatta National Hospital said on Wednesday that medics were treating 160 people some of them with soft tissue injuries, others with rubber/bullet wounds.

The exact number of fatalities remains unknown with the President putting the figure at six while the Kenya National Human Rights Commission said 23.

Two more deaths were reported in Ongata Rongai Thursday among them a 15-year-old. The tragic events happened when police officers tried to block some rogue protestors who attempted to loot a supermarket.

The bereaved families have appealed for financial support even as a blood donation drive kicks off across the Country.

By Margaret Kalekye