Robert Muchangi, a 28-year-old laborer from Meru County, Kenya, reportedly died on Wednesday at the Kenyatta National Hospital’s intensive care unit, where he was admitted an attack in Meru.
Standard media reported that Muchangi, a bricklayer, was attacked in Kabuitu, last Wednesday, by a man suspected to have offered him a building job at his home. However after laborer visited the man to demand his dues, four-inch nails were driven into his head. Kaunga, the witness who rushed the victim to hospital after the attack, said Muchangi spoke to him about the assault before he lost consciousness.
The death of Muchangi comes with the added burden of a Sh300,000 medical bill for his family after his week-long stay in the hospital, where doctors managed to pull the four-inch nails out of his head.
An X-ray conducted after the nail removal, revealed that Muchangi’s skull and brain were injured. Kitheo Sub-Location Assistant Chief Sabastian M’Iruri said they had launched a search for the suspects.
However the family of the deceased on Wednesday, questioned the silence of the police on the attack that has shocked many Kenyans. Police remained tight-lipped about the incident, with senior police officers in Meru declining to comment on the issue that has raised public concern. Mr Muchangi’s sister, Regina Murugi, said the family was at a loss how to raise the money to pay the hospital bill and bury him.
“This is a difficult time for us. We are in mourning and cannot even afford the Sh4,000 for a postmortem that should be carried out as soon as possible,” she said.
Ms Murugi appealed to the Government to assist the family to settle the bill and get justice for Muchangi by hunting down those responsible for the assault. The family described Muchangi as a peaceful person who left his village of Nguiri in Makengi location, Embu County, for Meru about 10 years ago to earn a living as a mason.