Three people died in Nairobi in the aftermath of the Linda Mwananchi rally, with police saying they were victims of mob justice as families of the deceased disputed claims that their loved ones were beaten to death for allegedly stealing phones.
Records at the Nairobi Funeral Home indicate that three bodies, initially unidentified, were brought in by police following the rally which began in the city centre and ended at Jacaranda Grounds.
But the families have come out in defence of their loved ones dismissing reports circulating on social media that they were beaten to death after being caught stealing phones.
A photograph of the late Joseph Omondi Shikuku, 23, who died following mob justice during the recent Nairobi tour by the Linda Mwananchi brigade, at his family home in Umoja 2, Nairobi, on September 15, 2026.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation
“My brother, Joseph Omondi Shikuku, has never stolen from anyone. He is a good person who was operating his small business of selling second-hand clothes and running a fast-food eatery here in Umoja 2. Whatever is being said on social media is totally wrong and we are hurt as a family,” Omondi’s sister Mercy Awino Shikuku told the Nation .
Ms Awino said the family learnt of Omondi’s death through a phone call from a family friend who informed them that he was no more.
According to Evans Okoth Ogada who accompanied Omondi to the rally, the two were caught up in a confrontation after residents mistook them for thieves who had been chased away.
A Linda Mwananchi supporters during a rally at Jacaranda Grounds in Nairobi on September 13, 2026.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
Mr Ogada said they were distributing leaflets for one of the candidates using motorbikes when they were attacked.
“Upon arriving at the flyover as we were attempting to access Jogoo Road, we heard people shouting ‘thieves’. Before reaching the stage, people were beating us. I tried my best to run away, but they were too many. I finally managed to escape, but I was injured. My friend Omondi was unlucky,” Mr Ogada said.
He said Omondi, who was well known in the area because of his involvement in Bunge La Gen Z, a community group he had initiated, did not steal any phone or other item on their way to Jacaranda Grounds.
“The people attacked us. I cannot tell the number of youths who were attacked with us because we were running for our lives,” Mr Ogada said.
Evans Ogada, a victim of the recent violence, narrates his ordeal after he was attacked while participating in the Linda Mwananchi brigade’s Nairobi tour, during an interview on September 15, 2026.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation
Ms Awino said a postmortem showed that Omondi died from injuries to the skull. The family, however, suspects that he could have been pushed from a footbridge by people who have not been identified.
“We want justice as a family. We are asking the police to release the CCTV footage along Jogoo Road where the incident happened,” she said.
Brandon Ong’or, 19, also died on Sunday.
His mother Hellen Ong’or said her son had never stolen from anyone and was instead branded a thief and a supporter of a rival political group.
Linda Mwananchi supporters gather at Jacaranda Grounds in Nairobi ahead of a rally by movement leaders led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna on September 13, 2026.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
“Even if the police said that he was beaten by mob justice, why is it that his body is free of any injuries? My son was killed by someone. I will not accept to be told that he was stealing from people,” she said as she waited for the postmortem results.
The family of Josephat Mogaka, 19, who also died on Sunday, is awaiting the postmortem results, which are expected on Wednesday.
Buruburu OCPD Boniface Lomuk confirmed that three bodies were recovered after the victims were allegedly subjected to mob justice by local residents.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino distanced Linda Mwananchi supporters from the reported deaths and condemned the violence, saying politics should not be a reason for people to lose their lives.
“This is so unfortunate and may their souls rest in peace. It is sad to lose people just because of politics. We need to treat each other with love. We experience the same challenges as Nairobians and Kenyans, and the enemy is poverty and bad governance,” the MP said.
