According to reports, the Lang’ata schoolboy who became widely known after shouting “Ruto ni mwizi” while police dispersed students with tear gas has died.
The boy, identified as David Shitanda, reportedly lost his life while fighting for Russian forces in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Reports indicate that David left Kenya for Russia in mid-2025. It is said that he had traveled there in search of better job opportunities due to high youth unemployment back home. However, after arriving in Russia, he is believed to have been recruited into the Russian military.
Sources familiar with the matter say that David died during a battle in Ukraine. The news has left his family and friends in deep shock and pain.
His mother, Susan Kuloba, is said to have last heard from him through a voice note he sent before his presumed death. People close to the family revealed that she had been hopeful that her son would find a better life abroad.
A friend who has been communicating with the family reportedly shared that they were informed they could claim 100,000 US dollars as compensation following his death in battle. The family has not publicly confirmed whether they have begun the process of claiming the compensation.
David first caught national attention while still a student after a video of him and his classmates being teargassed went viral on social media. His death has now sparked sadness among many Kenyans who remember the incident.