Calls for justice as slain Moi University student is buried
Japheth Mungai, a second-year student at Moi University whose body was on December 14, 2019 found hanging inside a lecture hall. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- A postmortem report ruled out claims that the student could have committed suicide.
- The university management is yet to comment on the December 14 incident.
A Moi University student, whose body was last week found hanging from the ceiling of a lecture hall, was buried on Monday.
Japheth Mungai, 22, was laid to rest at his parents’ home in Mohotetu village in Laikipia County in a sombre ceremony.
The body of the second year Bachelor of Microbiology student was found last week by his colleagues hanging from the ceiling of a lecture hall at the university’s main campus in Kesses, Uasin Gishu County. His hands were tied.
During the burial ceremony, local leaders led family members in pointing accusing fingers at the university management for keeping them in the dark since the incident occurred.
“We are very bitter with the manner in which the university’s management handled the case. We are surprised that the university has remained silent since the incident occurred,” cried Ms Monica Mungai, the student's mother.
The family also accused police of not doing enough to ensure the culprits are brought to book.
BITTER MOURNERS
"Today I am burying my son while his killers are eating, sleeping and walking scot-free out there. It is now one week since the incident occurred and nothing has been done, neither have the police communicated to us the progress [of investigations],” said Mr Charles Mungai, the slain student’s father.
Marmanet MCA Simon Kanyutu also faulted the university and police for not giving proper information to the family and asked DCI boss George Kinoti to take up the matter.
“We are very bitter that the university has not even sent a representative to the burial despite the student having met his death within the university’s premises.
“We want the university management to come clean and tell us what they are hiding from us, we have entrusted our children to them yet we haven’t heard from them up to date,” said Mr Kanyutu.
Kesses Sub-County Police Commander Harun Muriasi had earlier said that police were still investigating the matter.
A postmortem report ruled out claims that the student could have committed suicide.
According to the postmortem report signed by Dr Benson Macharia, a pathologist at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, there were no physical injuries on the neck to indicate the victim hanged himself.
