A 23-year-old man was fatally shot while working out at a gym in Karatina, Nyeri County, after a stray bullet pierced the building during anti-government protests. The incident has sparked nationwide mourning and renewed concerns about public safety amid rising unrest.
Highlights
- Ken Ouma was exercising at Power House Gym when a bullet entered through the window.
- He was not participating in the nearby Gen Z protests.
- Eyewitnesses say the bullet struck him in the neck, killing him instantly.
- Mourners carried his body wrapped in the Kenyan flag to Karatina Law Courts.
- His father is demanding justice and declined a postmortem.
Main Story
On June 25, 23-year-old Ken Ouma walked into Power House Gym on the fifth floor of Karatina’s Best Lady Building for what was meant to be a regular workout. But as protests raged outside, chaos spilled into the gym when a stray bullet struck Ouma in the neck mid-session. He collapsed and died on the spot.
Ouma had not taken part in the Gen Z demonstrations that were unfolding in the town. According to gym trainer Levis Adaki, he was simply lifting weights when the bullet came through a window. Witnesses tried to alert him, but he dropped to the ground, bleeding heavily.
Fellow gym members and residents carried Ouma’s body, wrapped in a Kenyan flag, to Karatina Law Courts in a symbolic protest against the police’s handling of the demonstrations. His death has become a chilling symbol of how innocent lives are being lost amid escalating confrontations.
Ouma’s father, Patrick Wafula, expressed deep sorrow, describing his son as a hardworking and disciplined young man who had just started building his future. Refusing a postmortem, Wafula questioned the need, saying the cause of death was obvious. “The bullet was there… why would I do a postmortem?” he said.
Ken Ouma wasn’t in the streets protesting — he was just trying to stay fit. His untimely death now echoes one painful truth: in moments of unrest, even the most innocent routines can turn deadly.
