Post-mortem confirms mobiliser Cecil Ouma died from single gunshot to chest

A post-mortem examination has confirmed that 28-year-old youth mobiliser Cecil Ouma died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.

Pathologists recovered the bullet that will now undergo ballistic analysis as investigations into his fatal shooting gather momentum.

Dr Bernard Midia, representing the government, and Dr Joseph Dungu, representing Ouma’s family, conducted the autopsy on Thursday. The two pathologists agreed on the cause of death after examining the body.

"We had two pathologists, one representing the government and the other representing the family," Midia told journalists after the examination.

"The conclusion is that he died as a result of a single gunshot wound to the left side of the chest," he said.

Midia explained that the gunshot caused extensive internal injuries, leading to severe bleeding that ultimately claimed Ouma's life.

"There was a lot of internal bleeding. That was the cause of death," he said.

The pathologist revealed that the bullet entered through Ouma's left forearm near the elbow before penetrating the chest, puncturing the lungs and eventually lodging near the spine.

"The bullet entered through the left forearm around the elbow region, entered the chest, puncturing the lungs, and got lodged in the spine," he said.

He confirmed that the bullet had been successfully retrieved during the post-mortem and handed over to investigators for forensic examination.

"We were able to retrieve the bullet, which we have handed over for ballistic investigations by the IPOA group. We now hand over the investigative processes to the authorities," Midia added.

The findings come as investigations intensify into the circumstances surrounding Ouma's death, which allegedly occurred on Tuesday, June 30, along Park Road in Nairobi.

Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs on Thursday appeared before detectives at the Nairobi Regional Criminal Investigations Headquarters, where he recorded a statement regarding the incident.

Speaking after meeting investigators, Jacobs expressed his condolences to Ouma's family, friends and colleagues, describing the shooting as a tragic loss.

He said the matter remained under active investigation and declined to discuss details surrounding the incident.

"The circumstances surrounding Ouma's death remain the subject of an active investigation," the Principal Secretary said.

Jacobs disclosed that investigators had already recorded statements from seven people, including two or three officials attached to his office, as they seek to establish exactly what transpired.

"I have responded to an invitation by the investigating agencies to record my statement on what really transpired. Already, seven people, including three from my office, have been summoned and shared their side of the story," he said.

New footage showed that Ouma was last seen alive after entering Fikirini's vehicle following a youth engagement forum.

The PS's vehicle was badly damaged during the chaos, forcing him to seek refuge at a police station.

Ouma, a 28-year-old former TUK University student, was a youth leader in Imara Ward in the Embakasi area.

He was among a group of youths who had attended a youth sensitisation meeting.

Police said a group of about 100 youths surrounded the official vehicle, demanding handouts.

The crowd reportedly opened the vehicle's doors as the driver sped off towards Dr Griffin Road, with some of the youths allegedly stealing valuables from the occupants.

During the incident, a Nokia mobile phone belonging to one bodyguard and another Nokia phone belonging to a second bodyguard were reportedly stolen.

The vehicle's rear windscreen was also smashed with stones.

The officers assigned to the Principal Secretary's security detail fired warning shots into the air to disperse the crowd as patrol officers responded to the scene and prevented the youths from pursuing the convoy further.

The Principal Secretary was later escorted safely to his residence by police officers.

Police arrested one suspect, who is expected to be charged.

It was then that Ouma was allegedly shot in the stomach and rushed to Park Road Nursing Home, where he was pronounced dead.

Officials at the facility said a man with gunshot wounds had been brought to the hospital but later died while receiving treatment.

The body was found with two gunshot wounds to the left arm and another gunshot wound to the left side of the chest, below the breast.

Police processed the scene before the body was moved to Chiromo Funeral Home pending a post-mortem examination.

One of the youth leaders who attended the event, Willie Maina, claimed Ouma's body was later found lying near the perimeter wall of Park Road Primary School.