Two mothers are preparing to bury their sons after what began as an ordinary Saturday turned deadly at a political event attended by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki in Embu County.
Mike Macharia, 23, had gone to play football while Moses Munene, 30, was on his way to work when they were shot during clashes between youths and anti-riot police at Nembure Stadium.
Their families say the two were not involved in the confrontation and are demanding answers over how they ended up dead.
For Charity Wanja, the violence last Saturday afternoon ended with the loss of her only child.
Macharia, a college student, had gone to Nembure Primary School to play football with friends when he was caught up in running battles between youths and police.
As the confrontation intensified, Macharia ran for safety. A police bullet struck him in the hip, bringing him down. Good Samaritans rushed him to Embu Referral Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Wanja, a single mother who had struggled to educate her son, is now preparing for his funeral while demanding answers over his death.
Some of the vehicles which were set ablaze when chaos erupted during a meeting presided over by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki in Nembure, Embu County, on September12, 2026.
Photo credit: George Munene | Nation Media Group
“My son was not among the youth who were fighting the police, and he should have been spared. The officers who killed my son should be exposed and punished in accordance with the law,” she said.
Macharia was her only child, and she said she had worked hard to ensure he completed his education and secured a better future.
“I’m from a poor background, and that is why I was working so hard to educate my son so that he would not suffer the way I was suffering. Sadly, my son was killed before completing his education,” she said.
She has appealed to well-wishers to help her give her son a decent send-off at Ugweri village in Mbeere North Constituency.
A few kilometres away in Gichugu village, another family is mourning the death of 30-year-old mechanic Munene.
His mother, Cecilia Wambeti, 58, said her son was riding his motorcycle when he encountered youths fleeing from police officers engaged in running battles.
He stopped, abandoned his motorcycle and started running but was shot in the back of the head and died at the scene, according to his mother.
“My son was going to work when he came face to face with the police who were engaging the youth in running battles. He was riding on his motorcycle but stopped abruptly after he was blocked by fleeing crowds of youth. Sensing danger, Munene, the last born in a family of three, abandoned his motorcycle and started running. He was shot from the back and lost his life,” she said.
“I hurriedly went to the scene only to be told that he had been taken to Embu Referral Hospital. I proceeded to the hospital, but on arrival I was informed to check in the mortuary,” she said.
She later identified her son’s body and went to Embu West Police Station to record a statement before returning home to begin funeral arrangements.
The family is also looking for Munene’s motorcycle, which has not been traced since the incident.
“We went to the scene, but we didn’t find the motorcycle. Police should tell us where it is,” she said.
Wambeti described her son as hardworking and generous, saying he regularly supported her financially.
“My son was very active and generous. Whenever I needed money to buy food and other things, he offered me. I have lost a good child,” she said.
She questioned why live bullets were used against her son, whom she said was not part of the confrontation.
The deaths occurred during chaos that broke out as Prof Kindiki addressed UDA officials at Nembure Stadium in Manyatta Constituency. Youths outside the stadium shouted and hurled stones as he spoke, prompting anti-riot police to disperse them. Running battles lasted several hours and six vehicles were set ablaze.
Governor Cecily Mbarire accused the opposition of orchestrating the violence and called for the arrest of those involved.
Deputy Police Inspector-General Gilbert Masengeli.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Yesterday, Deputy Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli condemned the violence and urged young people not to be used by politicians.
