Family of JKUAT student Denzel asks state to expose 'killers' of their son

The family of the slain Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) student Denzel Omondi wants the government to expose those who killed their son.

The family argued that they have not received any progress in investigations into who took away the life of their son since July 6 when his body was found floating in a Waterville quarry in the Gachororo area in Juja, Kiambu County.

Omondi is reported to have gone missing on June 24, 2024, before his body was later discovered in the quarry.

It is alleged that he is among the youths (Gen Zs) who lost their lives during protests against the government.

Omondi was a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Quantity Survey at the university at the time of his death.

His parents James Onyango (father) and Jedidah Omburah (mother) said it is difficult to understand how their son was killed.

“It’s hard to accept that my eldest and promising son Denzel is no more. We want to know those who took away his life because up to now, we haven’t received the postmortem results,” Onyango said.

Speaking during his burial at Kanjira village in Karachuonyo constituency, Homa Bay County on Monday, the family called on the government to look for ways of addressing problems the protesting Gen Zs are raising.

He said police brutality should not be a remedy to problems raised by protesters, especially the youths.

“I wonder why we should continue to lose such young souls in the country. Let the government get ways of addressing issues faced by young people,” he said.

The deceased mother Jedidah claimed that the government was economical with the information about the death of the son.

“We started facing difficulties from the time we heard about the disappearance of Denzel. We walked into police cells, mortuaries and hospitals without any government assistance,” she said. 

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and his Karachuonyo counterpart Adipo Okuome who attended the burial called on the government to provide answers to families that lost their loved ones in protests.

Owino said the death of protesters has caused a lot of trauma to families.

“Kenyans don’t just want the families who lost their loved ones in protests compensated. We want to know why extrajudicial killings must continue in the country,” Owino said.

The Embakasi East MP  argued that the country will only have reforms and development if the protests continue.

“For a seed to germinate the ground must break and for people to have rain, the cloud must crack. For this case, Kenya Kwanza government must go for Kenya to develop,” the MP said.

During his speech, he opposed plans for a national dialogue.

He also opposed any attempts to hike university fees saying a lot of families will not be able to educate their children if tertiary education is made expensive.

“We will continue fighting for the rights of Kenyans and I am not afraid to take the lead,” Owino said.

MP Okuome said he would build a classroom at Adhiro Primary School in the constituency and name it after Denzel.

“Denzel was an academically promising boy and would have helped the community if his life was not cut short. We would remember him and his dreams,” Okuome said

JKUAT eulogised Denzel as a bright and dedicated student in their school.

Joseph Mwangi who represented the university VC Prof Victoria Ngumi and their students leader Fidel Wandiga said Denzel was a polite and focused student.

Civil society groups led by Homa Bay Bunge la Wenye Nchi and Aluora Makare Community-based organisations also mourned Denel by planting trees to honour him.