The family of Trevor Mureithi, a 20-year-old first-year student of Multimedia University who was brutalized by anti-riot police during a peaceful protest on Tuesday, has finally spoken about the chilling incident.
His mother, Mureithi Ikinya, on Wednesday expressed deep anguish over the incident saying the son is set to undergo surgery.
Ikinya expressed disappointment with the police over the incident saying she had no energy to report the matter to the security agencies.
“As a normal Kenyan these days, what can you do? Go to the police station and again try and complain to the same people. We can't be able to stop them. They can always do the same thing again. They can do that to anybody else," she lamented.
She expressed concern over her son’s mental state, noting that he may need counselling after the traumatic incident.
"I just look forward to him getting well and back to school. He's frightened but we hope to get some counselling sessions after that," she added.
The incident sparked nationwide outrage after officers were filmed roughing up Trevor during the Multimedia University protests on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.
While protesting over water scarcity and faulty electrical sockets, students were met with force by anti-riot police.
The most disturbing moment came when an officer was filmed casually dropping a detonated tear gas canister next to a helpless Trevor who was lying on the ground injured and unable to stand to walk to safety.
University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Rosebella Orangi Maranga distanced the institution from the violent response by the police.
“We normally don't allow them to come, but they found their way in,” she said.
Multimedia University students have vowed to continue their demonstrations until the officers filmed clobbering Trevor are held accountable.
"Our demonstrations have not ended. It will only end when the police officers who injured Trevor are brought to book," said a student leader, calling on comrades from other universities to unite in the fight for justice.
“Call upon all the comrades from different universities and we shall and we will fight for justice.”
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has since launched investigations into the disturbing incident.
Reacting to the incident, IPOA in a statement said a Rapid Response Team has been dispatched to the university.
Among other instructions, the team will "establish the veracity of a video clip widely shared on social media, depicting a youth being assaulted by police officers".
