Kennedy Onyango’s shooting: A mother’s heartbreak and the wait for President William Ruto’s promise
Jecinta Anyango said she had placed all her hopes on Onyango - to get an education, find a steady job, and one day provide for her, noting that she has no home in the rural areas to turn to.
Jecinta Anyango, the mother of a 12-year-old boy, Kennedy Onyango, who was shot by police in Rongai in 2024 during protests against the Finance Bill, is inconsolable.
Speaking to the Eastleigh Voice about how police brutality robbed her of hope and determination, Anyango expressed sadness that life has not been easy since his life was cruelly cut short by eight bullets.
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"I sometimes think I don't even understand myself. I usually hallucinate that he will be back because I do not often want to believe he is gone forever... I believed he would support us as an adult. His other siblings are suffering from sickle cell and are most times sickly. One of my children, who suffers from sickle cell, was very close to Onyango. He is greatly affected by his death," said Anyango.
Anyango said she had placed all her hopes on Onyango - to get an education, find a steady job, and one day provide for her, noting that she has no home in the rural areas to turn to.
"Onyango was the eldest child in my house. He wasn't sickly. He was bright in school and had a promising life that was nipped in the bud by bullets fired at his body by a police officer. I have no house in the rural area, and I had thought that Kennedy would get an education and, in turn, acquire employment to support me," she disclosed.
According to Anyango, justice has remained elusive and expensive, a year on, despite the 12-year-old's killing, birthing calls for accountability that attracted the political class, including President William Ruto.
"I have tried seeking justice, but I have failed. I have given up because I see someone like me can't get justice. Leaders have visited me before to promise me that they will help me get justice, yet they knew too well they were lying. It has been painful because even the president spoke to me on the phone, assuring me of justice, yet I cannot reach him now," said Anyango.
Anyango shared that President Ruto told her via phone, "I am very sorry. I will find time and call you, we sit down so that I can do something about the murder of your child, just like I would have liked to be done to me if I were in your situation."
She added that she strongly believes Onyango was innocent since he knew nothing about why people were protesting.
"Mtoto wangu hana hatia, hawezi enda maandamano. Risasi si ya kuua mtoto (My son is innocent; neither could he protest, nor should bullets be used to kill a child)," she said.
According to government pathologist Peter Ndegwa, Onyango died of severe haemorrhage (excessive bleeding) caused by a long-range bullet wound.
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