Police in Gatitu village, Kandara Sub-County, Murang’a County, are searching for the people behind the death of 15-year-old KCPE candidate Juliano Kanyonyo Mbatha. The case came to light after the boy was found dead in his room on Sunday, with investigators later saying the injuries pointed to assault.
Kanyonyo had scored 376 marks and placed third in his school, according to the report. He had also undergone circumcision the previous Monday and was said to be on his final day of bed rest when he died.
His uncle, Joseph Kamande, said the family became concerned after the boy’s mother called him and he did not respond. Relatives then entered his room and found him dead in bed. Kamande said Kanyonyo was bleeding foam from the mouth when they discovered him.
County Police Commander Farah Mohamed said a Tuesday autopsy showed the boy died from brain hemorrhage. He added that the postmortem also found blunt force trauma to the head, which was consistent with assault.
Police said they had opened investigations and were working with the family to identify those involved. Mohamed said the suspects would be arrested and charged with murder once found.
He also warned residents against abusing initiates in the name of tradition, saying such conduct could turn into serious assault and lead to death. Local residents had already raised concerns that the boy may have been tortured as part of a forced transition into adulthood.
The death has left Gatitu village in mourning. Neighbours and school officials described Kanyonyo as disciplined, hardworking, and bright. Gatitu Primary School head teacher Robert Muchara said the boy was a top performer who remained focused on his studies.
Kanyonyo had also started a rabbit-rearing project at home, which he tended in his free time. He was a partial orphan after his father died in 2012.
