Tension escalated in Kakamega on Friday after a group of angry youths stormed a family home and seized the body of 22-year-old Derrick Machanje, a student who reportedly died after being shot during recent anti-fuel protests.
The dramatic incident unfolded as residents, boda boda riders, and tuk-tuk operators took part in a charged procession through Kakamega town while escorting Machanje’s coffin ahead of his planned burial in Shinyalu.
Videos circulating online showed dozens of boda bodas and tuk-tuks speeding through the streets while following a motorcycle carrying the coffin, as emotions ran high among mourners demanding justice over the student’s death.
Businesses in parts of Kakamega town remained closed as tension mounted during the procession, with residents expressing anger over the circumstances surrounding the killing and the handling of the body.
Machanje, popularly known as “Mwala,” was a second-year mechanical engineering student at Sigalagala National Polytechnic. Besides his studies, he reportedly worked part-time as a tuk-tuk driver to support himself financially.
Reports indicate that the youths who seized the body were mainly fellow students, friends, and transport operators who had joined the protests demanding accountability.
According to information shared by the family, Machanje was allegedly shot in the head during demonstrations held on May 18 as protests over rising fuel prices intensified in different parts of the country.
The family said they initially learnt about his death through social media posts before tracing his body to the mortuary after unsuccessful attempts to locate him at Kakamega County Referral Hospital.
Relatives also raised concerns about the condition of the body, alleging that a bullet had been removed and the wound stitched without the family being informed or giving consent.
The developments have triggered fresh outrage among residents and human rights activists, who continue to question the handling of deaths linked to the anti-fuel demonstrations.
Family members are now demanding justice and calling on authorities to provide clear answers regarding the shooting and the subsequent handling of the body.
The incident comes amid growing public concern over fatalities reported during last week’s nationwide anti-fuel protests, which disrupted transport and business activities in several counties.
Human rights groups and local leaders have continued to call for investigations into the deaths, with pressure mounting on authorities to ensure accountability for victims affected during the demonstrations.
