Ruptly
"A family in Nanyuki is calling for justice after 27-year-old Charles Mang'aro Mwangi was killed amid protests against a proposed US-backed Ebola quarantine centre at Kenya’s Laikipia Air Base. In an interview recorded on Wednesday, Charles' brother, James Mwangi, described him as the 'backbone' of the household and said the family had lost not only a relative, but a friend. "I think the relevant authorities and institutions should wake up and take accountability," Mwangi said. "We know it's the police who did this, so investigations should gear up and justice be served." "He was the pillar back here at home," Mwangi continued. "Each and every time my mother wants to help, she would just call, 'Charles, go pick this, take it home',' Charles, come pick me, take me home'. Because he had a motorbike." Mwangi said Charles had not been taking part in the demonstrations and had spent the day working in Nanyuki town. "I was told by my mother he was at work in Nanyuki town when this maandamano (protest) was happening, but he was not involved in the maandamano (protest)," Mwangi said. "In the evening, he came home, he brought his motorbike home, then he told my mother he was going back to see a friend. It was around six in the evening. Around 6:30, my mother was called and told he had been shot, and they rushed to the hospital, and they found he was no more," he added. Mwangi also revealed that he had been to see his brother’s body at the morgue. "I went to the morgue, and I saw him. The bullet lodged in the left shoulder and came out the other shoulder. So there are two holes, here and here," he said. "Justice to me is seeing the person who did this behind bars and held accountable," he added. Two people were reportedly killed during Monday’s protest in Nanyuki, although the exact circumstances of the deaths remain unclear. Protesters had gathered against a planned 50-bed Ebola isolation facility at Laikipia Air Base, intended for asymptomatic US citizens exposed to the virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo or Uganda. Critics say the centre could put Kenyans at risk and accuse Washington of using an African country as a 'dumping ground'. US officials say the facility would monitor exposed people who are not showing symptoms, while symptomatic patients would be treated elsewhere. Kenya has reported no Ebola cases. President William Ruto defended the plan, saying it was part of a long-running health partnership with the United States and would strengthen Kenya’s preparedness. "I gave the okay because it was an agreement and a partnership with friends who have worked with Kenya for 30 or 40 years. The American government has supported us <...> They have deployed huge resources in Kenya to work with us on HIV/AIDS and other diseases," he said. Kenya’s High Court has extended a suspension on the facility for three weeks and ordered the government to disclose agreements linked to the project. The next hearing is scheduled for June 23."
Go to News Site