Cause of death of JKUAT student found in Juja dam revealed

A third-year Quantity Surveying student from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), who went missing during the early stages of anti-Finance Bill protests in Nairobi, has been confirmed to have died by drowning, according to a post-mortem report.

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The autopsy, conducted Tuesday at General Kago Funeral Home in Thika, revealed that the 23-year-old had bruises on the back of his head and legs.

Although the pathologists did not address the media, Amnesty International Kenya Executive Director Irungu Houghton stated that Danzel Omondi’s body was found on July 6, floating in the deserted Mashinani quarries in Juja.

This discovery has led to suspicions regarding the circumstances of his death, as his friends and family doubted the possibility of suicide or an accidental fall.

Amnesty International Kenya and other human rights organizations are calling for an investigation into Omondi’s death. There are suspicions that Omondi was killed elsewhere and his body was dumped at the quarry, possibly due to his participation in the recent anti-tax protests.

“We demand a credible independent investigation to reveal and prosecute those responsible for abducting, killing, and dumping #OccupyCBD protester Denzel Omondi in a quarry to hide their crime,” said Houghton.

On June 25, Omondi was seen protesting at the National Assembly and was later spotted at the university the following day, only to disappear on June 27.

“I am inside, where is this? Occupy parliament,” Omondi, the firstborn in his family, is heard saying in a video taken near the August House.

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The deceased’s father, James Otieno, said he last spoke to his son on the morning of June 27, but his phone went off later that day, which he initially thought was normal. He later received distressing calls about his son’s disappearance.

“The last time I spoke to him, he showed no signs of fear. When he went missing, it brought worry to us as a family. I spoke to him on June 27, but his phone went off in the evening, and we thought he would call back. I learned of his disappearance later through a call from someone back home,” said Otieno.

“I am saddened by the death of my son Omondi. He was a promising young man whom we hoped would complete his studies and contribute to nation-building. We leave everything to God but will pursue justice,” he told journalists.

Police say they are investigating the incident. A team from Juja reported they were informed about the student’s body lying at the quarry.

Human rights organizations report that dozens of people who participated in the protests are either missing or in hiding after learning they are being hunted by state agencies.