Family seeks truth in mysterious death of university student Cullen Maina

The family of Cullen Maina, a 24-year-old university student recently found dead, is seeking clarity on the true cause of his death after police claimed it was due to a car accident.

Maina's body was discovered at the City Mortuary on July 14 after he went missing during the June 25 protests. 

Teresa Gathoni, Maina's sister, recounted the harrowing experience of searching for her brother.

"We noticed he was missing after the last protest. We searched for him throughout all those days and found him at the city mortuary on July 14.

"His friends had a picture of his disfigured body, and the only way we could confirm it was him was by coming to the mortuary," she explained.

Gathoni also mentioned that they could only identify her brother through his hands and feet due to the condition of his body.

In their quest for answers, Maina's family visited Kasarani Police Station on Monday to obtain a report on his death since its officers were the ones who found his body and ferried it to the mortuary.

However, she expressed frustration with the police, accusing them of hiding the truth behind her brother's death. 

"We tried to follow up with them to know what exactly happened to my brother when they found him and where they found him, but it has been a game of chasing them around trying to find the truth."

Demonstrators react as police use tear gas to disperse protesters during a demonstration against Kenya's proposed finance bill 2024/2025 in Nairobi, Kenya, June 25, 2024. (Photo: Reuters)

Gathoni revealed that the family was shuffled from one police officer to another in their search for closure. The family, however, did not give up its pursuit of the truth. 

"After being moved around between the police officers, one of them brought a statement indicating that we had successfully identified Cullen and were positively acknowledging that he was involved in an accident. We refused to sign because we are not sure he was involved in an accident," she said.

According to Gathoni, the officer became aggressive and tore up the statement after they declined to oblige. She said, "He said that we were fighting him, and he cannot help us now."

Despite the officer throwing a tantrum, the family insisted on finding out the cause of Maina's death. Their suspicions were fueled by inconsistencies in the police narrative and the condition of his body.

The sister said that he had a deep cut on the left side of his chest and a deep hole as well.

"We do not know what exactly happened to him. There is no way I will let my brother rest without knowing what happened to him," Gathoni vowed. 

James Mato, Maina's uncle, echoed the family's determination to uncover the truth. He also emphasised the family's need for closure, highlighting that understanding the circumstances of Maina's death is crucial for their healing process.

"It is devastating as a family, and the best way to heal is to get closure through the truth. Some things don't just happen, and the inconsistencies make the suspicion even greater," Mato lamented, adding that they are now awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination, hoping it will provide answers and shed light on the true cause of Maina's death.

As they continue to seek justice for Cullen Maina, his family remains steadfast in their demand for transparency and accountability. "We need to know what happened to my brother. We cannot rest until we have the truth," Gathoni stated.

Protesters fighting the Finance Bill, 2024, are pictured in a confrontation with anti-riot police officers on Moi Avenue in the Nairobi central business district on June 25, 2024. (Photo: Justine Ondieki/EV)