Two killed in Narok chaos died of abdominal, head injuries

Two people killed during the recent confrontation between police officers and Duka Moja Trading Centre residents in Narok county died of fatal abdominal and head injuries.

Government pathologist Dr John Biket who conducted a postmortem on the bodies on Monday evening, said a 20-year-old man died of penetrating abdominal injury that shattered the blood vessels leading to massive hemorrhage while the second person died of perforating injuries in the head and suffered from traumatic injury.

Addressing the Press at the Narok County Referral Hospital alongside the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) commissioners, Dr Biketi said they were able to get metallic fragments which Ipoa will hand over to ballistic experts.

The two bodies are still lying at the hospital mortuary to allow Ipoa to carry out investigations as families prepare for burial.

Ipoa commissioners led by Vice Chairperson Ann Wanjiku, Samati Kembo, and Mika Onyengo who have pitched camp in the county since Saturday to investigate the matter.

“The Ipoa team has been on the ground, visiting the bereaved families and the injured since we are committed as a commission to have a police service which is professional and a citizen which is law-abiding,” said Ms Wanjiku.

She said for the last three days, an investigation team from Ipoa has been recording statements from families of the two victims, witnesses and the local chiefs, in effort to get to the root of the matter and ensure justice is served to the families.

The commissioners also Joined Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu, MCAs Salaash Kisotu (Suswa Ward), Lemiso Kimiti(Keekonyokie Ward), Anti-FGM Chair Ipato Surum, to visit the bereaved families in Suswa Ward, Narok East sub-county.

The governor condoled with the families following the tragic loss of their sons, Joseph Suntai and Moses Nkaratoi, who succumbed to injuries during the violent demonstrations.

“It is regrettable that an unfortunate incident, involving the loss of several sheep, escalated into violence resulting in the deaths of our beloved brothers. I urge all citizens to exercise restraint in such circumstances, to allow for calm reflection and to prevent further loss of life and property damage. We are committed to engaging with the relevant authorities to ensure a thorough investigation and prosecution of those responsible,” said Ntutu.

The violent demonstrations on January 17, 2025, resulted in the deaths of people while others sustained injuries. Ipoa said the officer whose left hand was chopped off is recuperating at a Nairobi hospital alongside two female police officers.