A family in Mavueni, Kilifi County, is crying for justice after their 21-year-old son died mysteriously on May 12.
The body of Baraka Kai was found in a neighbour’s compound, less than 100 meters away from their home.
The body was found in a house that was under construction on May 13, some 18 hours after he was believed to have died.
The family only learnt about the tragedy when police officers visited their home and asked Baraka’s mother Fridah Kai to accompany them to the site to identify the body.
“They asked that I come with another witness to identify the body. I did not know it was my son by that time. So, I called my neighbour and we accompanied the detectives into the neighbour’s compound,” Fridah told the Star on Tuesday.
She was overwhelmed with emotion and fell to the ground in shock upon seeing the body of her second-born son lying on the ground.
Police say Baraka died after falling from the roof of the one-storey building under construction. He was cutting metal bars with the intention to steal.
His family, however, disputed that account, alleging foul play.
Fridah and her husband Gibson Kai told the Star that Baraka used to work for the caretaker of the compound where he met his death.
They said the caretaker, only identified as Maridadi, owed him and three other friends money for the small errands they undertook on his behalf.
“Why did he not inform us of the death all that while until police had to come and tell my wife about it? Why hasn’t he set foot into our home since the incident yet he used to eat breakfast, lunch and sometimes supper in our home almost every day?” Gibson posed.
Maridadi has not been seen since the incident.
The family wants him questioned.
Baraka was set to join the Kenya Coast National Polytechnic on May 21, about a week before he died.
His family last saw him on May 12 at around 8pm when he had supper at home before leaving the house saying he was going to ask for a debt he was owed by his friend and neighbour.
He never returned. It was not unusual for him as he liked going out.
Muslims for Human Rights (Muhuri) rapid response officer Francis Auma said the police version of the whole saga is not adding up.
He questioned why the police had not recorded statements from the family until May 25, almost two weeks later, and only after he had started following up on the case.
“I got this information on May 25 and started following it up with the DCI. The day I went to the DCI offices in Mtwapa is the day they called the parents to record statements. Why is that so? It shows there is something not right,” Auma said.
Baraka’s parents said the DCI were willing to wait for them, saying they would not leave the office until they came, even if it meant staying in the office up to 10 pm.
“I was surprised. I thought we don’t need to record statements because they never bothered to ask us to record one,” Fridah said.
Gibson questioned why the caretaker of the compound where his son was found dead has not recorded any statement or been taken in for questioning.
Kilifi South subcounty police commander Hassan Kochale, however, said police have nothing to hide and that he will issue a statement once he is given the report by the DCI head.
“When I get the full report, I will call you with all the information about the case,” Kochale told the Star.
By the time of going to press, he had not called back.
Gibson on Thursday said they are yet to get the post-mortem report despite the autopsy being conducted on May 18.
“We were at the mortuary today and they told us they are so busy they cannot get the report for us. They asked that we go back tomorrow, on Friday,” he said.
The body of Baraka will be removed from the Kilifi County Referral and Teaching Hospital on Friday for transportation to Kizingo, Mwarakaya location in Chonyi sub-county for burial on Saturday.
