In Kathiani, Machakos County, a grieving family continues to struggle with the painful loss of 17-year-old Elijah Muthoka. Elijah died after sustaining serious injuries during the June 25 anti-government demonstrations, leaving behind a mother and siblings whose lives have been turned upside down.
Elijah was a Form Three student who had traveled home for the school holidays. On the day he was injured, he had stepped out to deliver some clothes to a tailor but never returned. Hours later, his family learned that he had been admitted to hospital with head injuries. Although he managed to speak briefly with his sister, he never recovered, and within days, his young life was cut short.
His mother, Magdalene Mwongeli, had single-handedly raised him, depending on odd jobs to keep him in school. For her, Elijah was more than just a son; he was her comfort, her future, and her protector. The shock of losing him has left her clinging to her faith as she tries to come to terms with the tragedy.
The family’s pain has been deepened by unanswered questions surrounding the circumstances of his death. An autopsy was carried out without their presence, and while the report pointed to blunt force trauma, it did not reflect what they had been told earlier about a gunshot wound. The conflicting information has left them searching for clarity and justice.
A few nights after Elijah’s burial, Magdalene says she dreamt of her son smiling at her before vanishing. To her, the dream was a sign of peace, yet it did little to ease the ache of knowing his life ended too soon.
By Creatorhub