The pain of losing a child never truly fades, and for Magdalene Mwongeli, it feels fresh every single day. Her 17-year-old son, Elijah Muthoka, died after sustaining severe injuries during the June 25 anti-government protests, cutting short a promising young life.
On the night of his burial, Magdalene says she dreamt of her son. In the dream, Elijah smiled warmly at her before vanishing into the shadows. For the grieving mother, the brief encounter has left her torn between hope and sorrow—unsure whether it was a message of peace or a silent plea for justice.
Elijah, a Form Three student, had left home to run a simple errand but never returned. Hours later, his family found him in hospital with serious head injuries. He had promised his sister he would explain everything once discharged—but that chance never came.
The autopsy deepened the family’s agony. While it confirmed blunt force trauma as the cause of death, there was no mention of the gunshot wound the family had been told about. That omission has left them questioning what really happened to their son.
For Magdalene, who raised her children through odd jobs, Elijah was more than just a child—he was her hope, her shield, and her future. Now, all that remains are memories, unanswered questions, and the haunting image of his smile in her dream.
Clinging to her Bible and rosary for strength, the mother of two vows she will not stop seeking the truth about her son’s death, praying that one day justice will speak for Elijah.
