Harrison Wachira’s death has left his family devastated, confused, and demanding justice after his life was cut short during the Saba Saba protests.
What was supposed to be a normal workday ended in tragedy. According to his partner, Wachira had gone to Juja for work as usual but got caught up in the chaos that erupted when anti-government demonstrators clashed with police.
In his last moments, he called her to explain that things were tense in Juja and that he was unsure of how to leave the area safely.
She pleaded with him not to open his shop and instead find a way home. Sadly, that would be the last time they spoke.
Later that day, horrifying footage started circulating online showing police officers dragging a lifeless body through the mud. It didn’t take long for the family to identify the man in the video as Wachira.
The sight shocked them to the core. According to one of his uncles, Wachira was not only shot in the neck but also dragged across the ground by officers who showed no respect or dignity toward his body.
The family suspects the bullet came from someone in an unmarked Subaru, a vehicle often linked to plainclothes police operations in Kenya.They confirmed the body bore signs of a gunshot and was covered in mud, matching the viral footage.
This kind of brutal treatment by those who are supposed to protect citizens has become far too common in the country. Wachira now joins a growing list of Kenyans who have died due to the excessive use of force by law enforcement officers during protests.
The Saba Saba protests, which took place on July 7, saw deadly violence break out in many areas, not just Juja. Reports of police firing live bullets were recorded in places like Kitengela, Ngong, Kiserian, Kangemi, and others.
Despite efforts to contain demonstrators and prevent them from reaching key areas like Nairobi’s Central Business District, the protests spilled into residential neighborhoods, and the consequences were fatal.
According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, the protests left at least 31 people dead, including a 12-year-old girl from Kiambu who was hit by a stray bullet inside her parents’ compound.
These deaths paint a grim picture of a country where unarmed civilians, even children, are not safe during demonstrations.Wachira’s family now wants answers. They are calling for those responsible to be held accountable and for an end to the killings.
Dragging a man through the mud after shooting him in the neck is not law enforcement. It is inhumane, cruel, and unacceptable. Kenya must confront this growing trend of police brutality and ensure that such actions do not go unpunished.
Justice for Wachira is not just about one family’s pain it is about restoring dignity, safety, and accountability in this country.
