Bullet killed boy, post-mortem report shows

A post mortem report has revealed that a 16-year old schoolboy, who died during riots over a local pastor in Embu town, was shot.

Dr Bernard Midia, a forensic pathologist working with the Independent Medical Legal Unit (IMLU), said that Kevin Macharia Gichobi, died of gunshot wound to the cheek that exited through the upper side of the head.

Speaking to the press after the post mortem was carried out at Embu Level Five Hospital, Dr Midia said the bullet ruptured the boy’s brain, killing him.
He said he had taken measurements of the hole left by the injury, to help in probe on the type of

Family members said the deceased would be buried at his grandfather’s farm in Kandawa village, Murinduko area of Kirinyaga County on Wednesday.

Kevin’s mother, Ms Tecla Wanjiku and other family members were taken through a counselling session by IMLU officials, to help them overcome the traumatic experience.

Ms Wanjiku described her son, who was in Standard Eight, as a jovial and obedient and the death had greatly affected the family.

She said the post mortem report had laid to rest an agonizing period, during which the family received calls from people claiming to be seeking settlement over the matter.

She called on the government to ensure the matter was resolved to ensure justice for her son.

“It has been a very challenging period especially due to the expenses involved. Some people were calling saying they were willing to offer us Sh50,000 so as to drop the matter. It was very traumatizing considering that we are grieving,” said Ms Wanjiku.

Kevin was shot dead last week on Monday after police fired to disperse rioters, who were confronting a pastor who was allegedly found in a compromising position with a local businessman’s wife.

The demonstrators had threatened to lynch him.