The Western Kenya town of Kakamega was on Friday engulfed in protests as hundreds of youths and students took to the streets to demand justice for a Sigalagala National Polytechnic student who was shot dead by police during recent anti-fuel price demonstrations.
The protests paralysed business activities in the town, with shops remaining closed for the better part of the day as demonstrators marched through major streets carrying the body of the deceased student in an emotional procession.
The student, identified as Derrick Machanja, died after being shot during the May 11, 2026 protests linked to the rising cost of living and increased fuel prices. According to witnesses, he was caught in confrontations between protesters and police in the Maraba area near Kakamega town.
Tensions escalated after reports emerged that the student’s body had been removed from the mortuary on Thursday midnight under police escort ahead of burial arrangements on Friday in Shinyalu. The move angered fellow students, friends and residents, who accused authorities of attempting to conduct a quiet burial without public involvement.
In dramatic scenes witnessed on Friday morning, youths, boda boda and tuk-tuk riders traced the body to his rural home in Lubao before returning it to Kakamega town aboard motorcycles and tuk-tuks. Large crowds later joined the procession, chanting slogans and demanding accountability over the killing.
Transport along sections of the Kakamega-Kisumu highway was disrupted as protesters blocked roads and lit bonfires, while security officers were deployed heavily across the town to prevent destruction of property and restore calm.
Family members described Machanja as a hardworking student who relied on operating a tuk-tuk to support his education and assist his family. His death has sparked outrage among residents and human rights activists, who have called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The incident has added to growing concerns over police brutality during recent demonstrations held across the country over the high cost of living. Leaders and activists continue to demand justice for victims killed during the protests and accountability from security agencies.
By Friday evening, tension remained high in Kakamega as residents continued to mourn the slain student while calling on the government to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.