Drama unfolded in Shamata, Nyandarua County, on Wednesday, October 28, after residents marched to a local police station carrying a casket to protest the killing of one of their own.
The protesters halted the burial of the deceased, identified as Gashema, before staging a demonstration to demand answers over his murder and swift action from the authorities.
Footage from the scene showed hundreds of residents carrying placards and twigs as they marched towards Shamata Police Station, chanting and demanding justice. A section of the demonstrators carried a brown casket, reportedly containing the deceased’s body.
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The residents said they were dissatisfied with the circumstances surrounding the killing, which reportedly occurred the previous week, and wanted those responsible to be brought to justice.
One of the protesters said the demonstration was intended to pressure the government to ensure that investigations into the murder were completed and justice served.
“I am a resident of Shamata. We have come here today to picket regarding the issue of one Gashema who was murdered in cold blood last week, and all we’re asking the government is that justice must be served and must be served,” the protester stated.
Beyond seeking justice for Gashema, the residents raised concerns over what they described as rising insecurity in the area, calling on police to strengthen efforts to combat crime and protect the community.
Reports indicated that the demonstrators camped outside Shamata Police Station for several hours before officers intervened to calm the situation.
A police official at the station said investigations into the killing were already underway and that detectives had identified four suspects as leads in the case.
According to the official, police were seeking the assistance of community volunteers to help identify the suspects and facilitate the next stage of the investigation.
“Investigations into this matter have already begun, and we have leads to four suspects. What we now want is community volunteers so that we can identify the suspects and move to the next stage of our investigations,” the police boss stated.
The involvement of community members is expected to assist investigators as they pursue leads surrounding the killing. However, the identities of the four suspects and whether any arrests had been made were not immediately established.
Meanwhile, the mourners were urged to take the deceased’s body back to the mortuary as police continued with their investigations.
The incident highlights growing public concern over violent crime and demands for accountability when residents believe that justice has been delayed.
A similar incident was reported in Nairobi on March 12, when youths stormed the City Mortuary demanding the release of the body of a friend who had reportedly died during flooding.
During the incident, the youths rushed outside carrying a casket while shouting the deceased’s name, only to discover that it was empty. They subsequently returned to the facility to demand the release of the correct remains.
The Shamata protest adds to a series of incidents in which grieving families and members of the public have resorted to demonstrations to demand answers over deaths and the handling of investigations.
As investigations into Gashema’s killing continue, residents are calling on the authorities to ensure that those responsible are identified and brought before the law.
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