Dezel Omondi
Death of Denzel Omondi
Denzel Omondi Onyango was a 23-year-old third-year Quantity Surveying student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), who went missing in late June 2024 after participating in the anti-Finance Bill protests in Nairobi.
Disappearance
Denzel was last seen on June 25, 2024, when he recorded himself inside Parliament during the Occupy Parliament protests. According to his family, he returned to his residence in Juja but went missing on June 27 under suspicious circumstances. Witnesses and friends alleged that he was abducted from his hostel by unknown individuals.[1]
Death and Autopsy
On July 6, 2024, Denzel’s body was discovered floating in a water-filled quarry (commonly referred to as a dam) in the Gachororo area of Juja, Kiambu County. He was fully clothed, and his backpack, which contained his national ID and student card, was recovered at the scene.[2]
A government pathologist concluded that Denzel died by drowning. However, the report also recorded bruises on his head and knees, prompting questions from the family and human rights groups about possible foul play.[3]
Public Reaction
Denzel’s family rejected the autopsy's conclusion and alleged that he was either tortured or dumped alive into the dam.[4]
Students at JKUAT organized protests and blocked parts of Thika Road demanding justice. They accused authorities of participating in a cover-up and called for an independent investigation.[5]
Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International Kenya and Haki Africa condemned the incident and raised concerns about enforced disappearances during the protests.[6]
Context and Pattern
His case fits into a larger pattern of suspicious protest-related deaths during the 2024–2025 Finance Bill demonstrations in Kenya. A Reuters investigation detailed how police frequently misclassified protest deaths as accidents or drowning.[7]
Legacy
Denzel Omondi has become a symbol of youth resistance and has been memorialized in student vigils and social media campaigns. Calls for a transparent investigation into his death remain ongoing.