In the heart of Mwiki, two families are holding onto pain and protest instead of closure, insisting they will not bury their children until justice is served.

The deaths of Joshua Njehia and Abigale Wanjiku have shaken their neighbourhood and sparked public anger, with post-mortem findings confirming the violent nature of their killings and raising fresh demands for answers and arrests.

Joshua was fatally shot during a confrontation in Mwiki. Pathologist Dr Richard Njoroge, who conducted the post-mortem, revealed that the bullet entered through the right side of the skull and exited through the back of the head.

“We found just one gunshot injury that traversed the right side of the brain and skull before exiting at the back of the head,” said Dr Njoroge. “We did not recover the bullet.”

Although authorities reportedly recovered the weapon used, the person believed to have fired the fatal shot remains free.

“The DCI told us they have the weapon that killed Joshua. But the officer who fired the shot is still free,” said Joshua’s father, Samuel Njehia. “As a family, we want the killer arrested.”

Local leaders say the identity of the officer is already known, adding to the frustration.

“It was a senior officer—an OCS. We know the station and the identity of the officer. If he isn’t arrested soon, we’ll protest the way we always do—until he is behind bars,” said Mwiki Ward Representative Sam Kago.

Human rights groups and lawyers representing the family are now putting pressure on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority to act without delay.

“We’re urging IPOA not to delay. The public is already agitated,” said Khalid Hussein of HAKI Africa.

“This young man will not be buried until those responsible are arrested and arraigned,” said a lawyer representing Joshua’s family.

As the case continues to stir unrest, the murder of 24-year-old Abigale Wanjiku has opened another painful chapter. Her body showed signs of rape, strangulation, and blunt force trauma to the head. No suspect has been arrested so far.

DNA samples, fingernail scrapings, and vaginal swabs have been collected from her body to aid ongoing forensic investigations.

With no progress in either case, residents, lawyers and human rights defenders are urging the government to stop dragging its feet. The families say there will be no peace—and no burials—until justice is done.