The family of Arnold Okong’o who was killed by police in Jericho, Nairobi, on Friday on suspicion he was a robber has said he was innocent.
Thomas Okong’o Onyango, his father, said his 16-year-old son was innocent, and called for justice.
Speaking to the Nation on Saturday, his uncle Geoffrey Okong’o added that Arnold was a tout of one of the matatus plying the Jericho-Gikomba-Eastleigh route.
SHOT DEAD
Mr Okong’o said his nephew was first stopped by two people riding a motorbike, whom eyewitnesses said were policemen.
“He was drinking tea waiting for his matatu when two people on a motorbike arrested him saying he was Shimoli.
“He surrendered but said he is not Shimoli and he does not even know him. But they shot him 16 times,” he said on phone.
Mr Okong’o further said that after by-standers started yelling that an innocent person had been killed, one of the shooters covered the boy’s body with a reflector jacket and “put a gun on him and left”.
POST-MORTEM
Buruburu Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Jeremiah Ikiao said that the only way they can know who was shot is when the family identifies his body on Monday.
“When the family comes to the city mortuary on Monday is when we will know who was shot,” Mr Ikiao said on phone.
The family had gone to Jogoo road police station where they filed the complaint.
“May God help us. We want the culprits arrested. He was a young boy with a whole future ahead of him,” Mr Okong’o said.
The body was taken to City Mortuary.