Who Killed Cullen Maina? Family Demands Justice

On a Monday morning at Kasarani Police Station, officers in full riot gear, armed with batons, contribute to a sombre atmosphere as a large crowd gathers inside.

Outside, Teresa Gathoni waits for her husband Eddie, revealing that she is the sister of Cullen Maina whose brutalized body was discovered at the City Mortuary the previous Sunday. Police officials had informed the family that Cullen's body was brought to the mortuary on June 10, 2024, from Kasarani Police Station. Eddie is currently attempting to obtain documentation from Deputy OCPD Hassan Bashir who has been tasked with processing their case to allow them to return to the City Mortuary with authorization for a post-mortem examination.

The situation is fraught with inconsistencies. The police report suggests that Cullen Maina, a 24-year-old, died in a hit-and-run incident by an unknown vehicle at a car wash in Kasarani along Thika Road on June 10 at 10 pm. However, this account conflicts with the testimony of the last person to see Cullen who stated that he left Ngara at 10:30 pm. This discrepancy has fueled Eddie's frustration and raised questions about the accuracy of the police's version of events. Cullen was known to be a reserved individual who had recently relocated from Mombasa to Nairobi after completing his internship.

According to his friend Teresa, a fellow student at KCA University, Cullen would occasionally stay with friends or socialize with classmates. His sister recounts that their last communication occurred via Instagram, unaware that it would be their final exchange. Joseph, another acquaintance, spoke with Cullen's female friend who confirmed that he had left her house in Ngara around 10:30 PM, stating his intention to head to Kahawa West. Following this, Cullen's whereabouts became a mystery, with no one hearing from him again. His friend Henry Gathogo initially dismissed Cullen's disappearance as typical of his reclusive nature, but as weeks passed without contact, they decided to create a "missing person" poster.

His friends and family scoured Nairobi's mortuaries, desperately hoping to locate his remains. Their efforts were initially met with disappointment when they were informed that Cullen's body was not among the records at the City Mortuary. His mother, grappling with the loss of her youngest child, pleaded for answers and sought to understand the circumstances surrounding his death. Despite their persistent inquiries, the police remained tight-lipped, refusing to provide any additional information. This lack of transparency has left Cullen's grieving friends and family in a state of uncertainty, clinging to the hope that a post-mortem examination might offer some closure.