Bullet ends life of boy who aspired to join police service

A Form Three student’s dream of becoming a police officer, like his grandfather, was shattered on March 14, after he was shot dead during protests in Elburgon Town.

Glen Rieche of Elburgon DEB Secondary School died on the spot after a stray bullet hit his heart during protests by residents near Elburgon Police Station.

The residents had stormed the police station in protest of what they said was the failure of the officers to fight crime. This was after the body of a mechanic was found near the station.

Rieche’s mother Caroline Bitutu, who was at her farm in Jerusalem village, was called at around 3pm and informed that her son’s body was lying on the road.

“I have lost a son to a police bullet and I demand justice,” said Bitutu.

Bitutu said her son wanted to be a police officer like his grandfather Henry Rieche, who was the area OCS.

“We named my son after his grandfather, a retired OCS. He always told us he wanted to be an officer like his grandfather. I will miss him greatly,” she said.

His father John Njihia said officers from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) visited them and he urged them to speed up investigations.