Family Demands Justice After Zakaria Gakinya Dies Following Attack During Ol Kalou By-Election
A family in Ol Kalou Constituency is demanding justice following the death of Zakaria Gakinya, a 45-year-old man who succumbed to injuries after he was allegedly attacked by armed men during Thursday’s parliamentary by-election.
The family says Gakinya was assaulted near a polling station while returning home after casting his vote. He later died while undergoing treatment, becoming one of the victims of the violence that marred parts of the by-election.
Grief has engulfed Uhuru Village in Ol Kalou Constituency, where relatives, friends, and neighbours are mourning a man they describe as peaceful and hardworking.
His widow, Mary Wanjiru, recalled learning about the attack through a phone call while she was at work. She said she had voted earlier in the day before returning to her salon, only to receive devastating news that her husband had been rushed to a nearby private hospital after being seriously injured.
According to the family, Gakinya sustained severe injuries during the assault, prompting doctors to refer him to a hospital in Nakuru for specialized treatment.
His wife said he suffered serious injuries to his back and head, adding that when she visited him in hospital, he repeatedly told her that he did not know the men who attacked him or why they had targeted him.
Family members say he was in immense pain and had to be comforted as he fought for his life before eventually succumbing to his injuries.
Witnesses told the family that three armed men confronted Gakinya as he made his way home. Two reportedly fled the scene while the third pursued him. Because he was carrying bags, Gakinya fell to the ground, where the attackers allegedly beat him repeatedly using the butts of their guns, inflicting severe injuries to his head and body.
Residents said voting had been peaceful throughout most of the day before a group of armed men travelling in high-end vehicles reportedly arrived in the area and began attacking members of the public indiscriminately.
The incident has sparked outrage among local residents, who questioned how such violence could occur despite the heavy deployment of security personnel during the by-election.
They argued that while security agencies have struggled to curb livestock theft and other forms of crime in the area, they were unable to prevent the violence that erupted on election day.
Residents are now calling for thorough investigations into the attack and justice for all victims of the election-related violence.
They also cited another fatal incident reported in Wamumbi, Kiambaga Ward, where a man was allegedly shot dead in what residents described as a similar attack, urging authorities to investigate all cases linked to the by-election violence.
The death of Zakaria Gakinya has renewed concerns over the safety of voters during elections and intensified calls for authorities to identify and prosecute those responsible for the violence that overshadowed the democratic exercise.
