James Gachara: Details Show Form 3 Student Shot During Saba Saba Protests Was Son of DCI Officer
- Details emerged showing the identity of a Form Three student who was shot dead during the recent demonstrations
- The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights released an update on the number of deaths and injuries from the Saba Saba protests
- The commission also appealed to the government concerning postmortem exercises amid ongoing investigations
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Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features for digital and print media.
Laikipia: Fresh details have emerged surrounding the death of James Gachara, who was shot dead by police in Nanyuki during the Saba Saba protests on July 7, 2025.
Source: Facebook
According to lawyer Wahome Thuku, Gachara was shot in Likii Estate and collapsed at the scene. His friends rushed to his aid and helped transport him to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Who is James Gachara?
Gachara, the only son in his family, was just a teenager with his future ahead of him. He was a Form Three student at Bingwa Secondary School.
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According to a report by Citizen TV, the slain student was the son of a serving DCI officer stationed in Meru county.
A video surfaced showing a police officer firing at Gachara, raising further concerns about the conduct of security forces during the demonstrations.
In a heartbreaking plea, his family asked the government to offset the medical bills incurred to allow them to lay him to rest.
Meanwhile, the Saba Saba protests, held to commemorate Kenya’s pro-democracy movement, were marred by widespread violence.
Videos recorded showed how masked men in unmarked Subaru vehicles infiltrated the protests and opened fire on demonstrators and even on bystanders recording from nearby apartments.
How many people died during Saba Saba protests?
In its latest update, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) confirmed that the death toll from the protests rose to 38, with at least 130 others nursing injuries across various parts of the country.
The fatalities span multiple counties, with the highest reported in Kiambu (8), followed by Nairobi (6), Kajiado (6), Nakuru (4), Kirinyaga (3), Murang’a (3), and others.
Among the deceased were four females and two children, with most victims identified as youths aged below 25.
Of the 15 postmortems conducted, 14 deaths were caused by gunshot injuries, including that of a 12-year-old girl who was shot while watching television at their home in Kiambu.
KNCHR urged the government to ensure that postmortems are conducted quickly and transparently, in the presence of independent pathologists, IPOA, and legal representatives of the affected families.
“A majority of these families are underprivileged and unable to pay the bills,” KNCHR stated, calling on the Ministry of Health to immediately and unconditionally waive all medical expenses incurred by victims of the Saba Saba demonstrations.
Source: Twitter
What happened to Julia Wangui?
Meanwhile, Julia Wangui was arrested during the Saba Saba protests on July 7 and remanded at Nanyuki Prison after failing to raise a KSh 50,000 bond.
She was allegedly assaulted in custody and later died in the hospital, where she had been rushed for treatment.
Wangui was the daughter of Nanyuki-based Chief Martin Kariuki Rienye, a public servant reportedly barred from speaking to the media.
The chief is said to be torn between mourning his daughter and maintaining loyalty to the government he serves.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
