Dennis Muthui, a 26-year-old man, was allegedly shot by police on Wednesday and later died from a gunshot wound to the stomach. An autopsy conducted on Friday, March 7, confirmed that he was shot at close range, contradicting earlier claims by the police that he had been stabbed to death.
The postmortem, carried out by Chief Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor, revealed that Muthui was hit by a small-caliber firearm, and the bullet exploded inside his stomach, leaving behind several fragments.
This directly challenged the police’s statement that his cause of death was a stabbing.
Human rights group Haki Africa has been vocal about the case, with its director Hussein Khalid revealing that the forensic team collected gun pellets and plastic shards from Muthui’s body. Khalid stated that at least seven bullet fragments were found in his remains, proving that he was shot rather than stabbed.
Witnesses at the scene of the incident also reported seeing a police officer firing the fatal shot, hitting Muthui in the stomach and killing him instantly. They further claimed that the officer identified himself as a law enforcer before opening fire.
Despite this, the National Police Service issued a statement hours later, insisting that Muthui had been stabbed, a claim that was immediately refuted by forensic evidence.
His body was later moved to the Nairobi City Mortuary as the authorities attempted to manage the situation.
Following the release of the postmortem findings, the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) launched an investigation into the killing. As a result, the police officer suspected of shooting Muthui has been interdicted pending further investigations.
Muthui’s family is now demanding justice, calling on the authorities to take swift action against those responsible for his death.
They want the government to ensure that officers involved in extrajudicial killings face the full force of the law. Human rights activists have also condemned the incident, saying it is another example of police brutality in Kenya.
The killing of Muthui occurred in Majengo during protests that erupted after the police shooting of 17-year-old Ibrahim Ramadhan on March 4, 2025.
The demonstrations quickly turned violent, leading to more casualties. Reports indicate that between two and three people died during the unrest, while several others sustained injuries.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) recorded two confirmed deaths, including Muthui, but the location of the second body remains unknown, as authorities allegedly removed it from the scene.
Some reports suggest that a third person also succumbed to gunshot wounds, raising the total death toll to three.
The Majengo protests have once again highlighted the issue of police brutality and excessive force against civilians.
Human rights organizations continue to call for accountability, urging the government to put an end to unlawful killings by security forces.
As IPOA investigates Muthui’s death, his family and the public remain hopeful that justice will be served.
