Parents of a Moi University student whose body was found hanging from the ceiling of a lecture hall last week have accused police of bungling investigations of their son’s death.
The parents of Japheth Mungai, 22, whose body was found by his colleague, hanging from the ceiling of a lecture hall at the university’s main campus in Kesses, Uasin Gishu County, with his hands tied has also accused the University management of failure to maintain security in the school.
During the burial ceremony held at Mohotetu village in Laikipia County on Monday, local leaders led the family members in pointing accusing fingers at the University for keeping them on the dark since the incident occurred.
“We are very bitter with the manner in which the University’s management handled the case. We are surprised that the University has remained silent since the incident occurred up to date when we are burying our son,” cried Monica Mungai, the deceased’s mother.
The family accused the police of not doing enough to ensure that the culprits who allegedly murdered the second year Bachelor of microbiology student had been brought to book.
“Today I am burying my son while the killers of son are eating, sleeping and walking scot-free outside there. It is now one week since the incident occurred and nothing has been done neither have the police communicated to us on the progress,” Charles Mungai, father to the deceased, lamented.
Marmanet Member of the County Asembly (MCA), Simon Kanyutu, also faulted the University and the police for not giving proper information to the family and asked DCI Boss, George Kinoti, to take up the matter.
“We are very bitter that the University has not even sent a representative to the burial despite the student having met his death inside the University’s premises.
“We want the University management to come up clearly and tell us what they are hiding from us, we have entrusted our children on them yet we haven’t heard from them up to date,” said Kanyutu.
Earlier, Kesses Sub-County Police Commander, Harun Muriasi, said that police were still investigating the matter, adding that the student could have committed suicide.
However, a postmortem report ruled out claims that the student could have committed suicide.
According to a postmortem report, signed by Dr Benson Macharia, a pathologist at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, who led the post-mortem, there were no physical injuries on the neck to indicate the victim hanged himself.
The report noted that the body had no injuries inflicted by the rope that was tied around his neck.
By Jesse Mwitwa
