Nakuru protests: His only crime was to go look for his brothers to share a meal
Austin Onyisa Makhoha was allegedly shot six times during the anti-finance bill protests.
17-year-old Austin Onyisa Makhoha had just cooked lunch for himself and his younger siblings. When he couldn't find them at home, he went out to look for them. It was the last time his mother saw him alive.
A native of Kabachia, Austin was the first born in a family of three. Barely old enough to vote and with limited understanding of what we were fighting for due to his autism, unfortunately according to his mother Maria Kyayange his son was shot six times: in the head, neck, ribs, stomach and leg.
The last thing she remembers her son saying to her was that he was going to look for his young siblings.
Rose Nyaguthie, Michaels mother.
"Mum, I hear there are a lot of policemen up there and my brother likes to play in that area. Let me look for him and bring him back. I waited for him to come back. I went to the street to look for him. Bullets were flying and protesters were running towards my house and we took cover," Maria said.
"I think he was shot in the leg during the scuffle. As he fell, they fired more bullets, hitting him in the head, neck, ribs and stomach," Maria said.
Unaware of what had happened to her child, she first went looking for her son. After hours of searching and not finding him, she decided to check hospitals and police stations, but still could not find him.
She remembers looking everywhere for him, and visiting PGH twice. Finally, she was told to wait for the doctor to do a roll call to see if Austin was there.
It was here that the doctor finally broke the devastating news that he had died.
"I was presented with an unknown body and told not to uncover it, but I kept asking how I was to know it was my child, so I uncovered the second body presented to me and found him with bullets in his head, neck, ribs, stomach and leg," Maria said.
"I was completely dependent on Austin for help and support. He helped me look after his siblings - taking them to school and bringing them back. Despite his condition, even when he'd forget things, he'd remember his responsibilities to his brothers. Now that he is gone, I do not know where to start. I don't know who will help me take the children to school or who will look after them when I go out to look for work,' Maria says, lost in thought.
Elsewhere tragedy struck twice in Pipeline, Nakuru East sub-county. Barely a week after Michael Kihuga buried his father, he too lost his life.
Michael Kihuga is claimed to have been shot in the stomach during the anti-finance bill protests in Nakuru.
The 28-year-old, a jack-of-all-trades and the family comedian, was shot three times in the stomach while taking part in the #Rejectfinancebill protests.
"My son was funny. He'd always come home and to my work and we'd talk and make jokes. We were his only family and now he's gone." Rose Nyaguthie, his mother, recalls.
On the day of the protests, Rose reveals that she told him not to join the protests.
"He was at home that morning and I told him not to go near the protests and he guaranteed me he wouldn't. I was shocked when I got a call later that he had been shot and was in a critical condition," says a shaken Rose.
What remains are the memories of a young man ready to do whatever it took to build the nation, having set up a fashion design studio and a phone and laptop repair shop.
Maria Kyayange, Austin's mother.
"My son was killed fighting for what he knew was right and for our country. With the recent death of his father, barely a week before, our family is reeling emotionally and financially. I appeal to the government for help at this difficult time," said Rose.
John Kariuki, his eldest brother, strongly condemned the killing of innocent people during the protests.
"We have lost a vibrant young man and his death has shaken our family to the core. We shared countless conversations - when he sought advice, I readily offered it, always encouraging his diligent work ethic.