A postmortem examination has confirmed that two people killed during protests in Embu died from excessive bleeding caused by gunshot wounds.
The autopsies, conducted at Embu Level 5 Hospital mortuary on April 20, establish that both victims suffered fatal haemorrhage from single gunshot injuries sustained during demonstrations in Ishiara.
According to Dr Grace Midigo, a pathologist with the Ministry of Health, the injuries were severe and directly led to the deaths.
“For both of them, the cause of death was massive haemorrhage due to a single gunshot injury sustained. One had a gunshot injury entry on the anterior neck surface, and the exit was on the back. The other had an entry injury through the mouth, but there was no exit,” she explains.
Midigo confirms that a bullet is recovered during the examination and handed over to investigators for ballistic analysis.
“We managed to retrieve the bullet, which we have given to the homicide team, and they are going to do a ballistic examination on it,” she adds.
The deceased are identified as 21-year-old Patrick Munene Kariuki and 32-year-old Morris Mugo Njoka. They are among three people who died following protests on April 14 over poor conditions at Ishiara Level 4 Hospital.
Residents had taken to the streets to protest issues including drug shortages, unreliable ambulance services, and inadequate infrastructure at the facility. The demonstrations later turned chaotic.
Witnesses claim that police opened fire while attempting to disperse the crowd, leading to the fatal shootings. A third victim who was injured during the unrest later died in hospital.
Human rights organisation VOCAL Africa, which followed the postmortem process, alleges that officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations denied them access to the procedure and the official report. The group also claims that families of the victims were discouraged from speaking to the media.
“We demand immediate arrest and charges of the officers responsible; swift, independent investigations… and urgent fixing of Ishiara Level 4 hospital,” says VOCAL Africa representative Stacy Akinyi.
The National Police Service confirms that the Independent Police Oversight Authority has launched investigations into the incident, adding that officers will cooperate fully.
Inspector General Douglas Kanja also orders the immediate recall of the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) in Ishiara following the incident.
The case has intensified scrutiny over the use of force during protests, as investigations continue.