A post-mortem conducted on two young people who died during confrontations with police in Nanyuki on Saba Saba Day has yielded mixed results, leaving one family awaiting further medical investigations and the other calling for justice.

The autopsy on 24-year-old Julia Wangui was inconclusive, with pathologists requesting two more weeks for further tests to determine what caused her death. Although bleeding was detected in her brain, it was found not to be severe enough to directly lead to her death.

“We don’t see direct injury to the head; therefore, we suspect the bleeding could have been caused by something other than trauma,” said Dr Peter Ndegwa from the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), who led the team of three pathologists.

The team also noted irregularities in Wangui’s liver, pancreas and lungs, which will be examined further. Toxicology tests will be carried out to determine if any substances may have contributed to her death. The team is also waiting for a medical report from the doctors who treated her after she collapsed while at Nanyuki Women’s Prison.

Family spokesperson Susan Rienye said they were satisfied with the initial findings and would wait for the final report, which is expected on July 28.

In contrast, the autopsy on 23-year-old James Wambugu, a Form Three student at Bingwa Secondary School, confirmed that he died from massive internal bleeding after being shot during protests in Nanyuki.

“Wambugu died as a result of quiet haemorrhage due to a single gunshot wound in the pelvic area. The bullet severed several blood vessels, including the large and small intestines,” said Dr Ndegwa.

The conclusion was supported by government pathologist Dr Ayub Gitaka and family pathologist Dr Dorothy Njeru, who conducted the autopsy jointly. The procedure took place at the Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary, under heavy security. Access was limited to authorised individuals.

Among those present were officials from the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), and the Homicide Department of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

Wambugu’s father, Lawrence Kiriinya, a serving DCI officer in Meru County, attended the autopsy but declined to speak to the media.

Family spokesperson Anderson Kirimi said the police officer who fired the fatal shot should be held accountable.

“Whoever shot our last-born brother should face the law. Wambugu had big dreams, which were abruptly cut short by a police bullet,” he said.

The family also pleaded with the government to write off the hospital bill.

Wambugu was shot on the morning of July 7 at Likii Estate, as he made his way to school, which is about two kilometres from their home. Unbeknown to the family, he had planned to join the Saba Saba protests. According to Kirimi, his brother wore civilian clothes over his school uniform and carried his school bag when he was shot.

A viral video captured the incident, showing a group of youth hurling stones at two plain-clothes police officers. One officer is seen firing in the air as the group scattered. Seconds later, Wambugu is seen falling to the ground and attempting to crawl, before others rush to carry him away.

He was taken to Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital, where he died the following morning, on July 8.

Wambugu’s mother, Jane Kinanu, recalled how her son had dropped out of school in 2022 but returned after surviving a near-fatal robbery attack in Isiolo. He had been assaulted by two armed men who stole his motorcycle and left him with serious neck injuries.

Following a long recovery, Wambugu decided to return to school and chase his dream of becoming a doctor , a decision inspired by the healthcare workers who had saved his life.

“He had quit school and relocated to Isiolo. After the attack, he enrolled in Form One in 2023 and vowed to become a doctor to save lives, just as the medics saved him,” said Kinanu from their home in Katheri village.

The deaths of Wangui and Wambugu have sparked public outrage in Nanyuki, with angry youth threatening to storm the police station in protest.