Autopsy confirms police bullet killed 12-year-old Bridgit Njoki during Saba Saba protests in Kiambu
A post-mortem report has confirmed that 12-year-old Bridgit Njoki Wainaina, who was shot inside her family’s home in Ndumberi, Kiambu County, died from a gunshot wound to the head.
The incident, which took place during the Saba Saba protests on Monday, has sparked public outrage, fresh protests, and renewed calls for police accountability.
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Speaking after the examination at Kiambu Hospital, Dr Mulu, the family’s pathologist, said the girl died from a traumatic brain injury consistent with a gunshot wound.
“During the post-mortem, we found a penetrating injury to the brain that caused a traumatic brain injury, and it was consistent with a gunshot injury. All the evidence has been documented,” Dr Mulu said.
Njoki had stayed home from school that day because of the heightened tension in the area.
According to her family, she was sitting in the living room when a bullet—believed to have been fired by police officers during a clash with demonstrators outside—pierced the wall of their house and struck her in the head.
In a tearful interview with journalists, her mother recounted the horrifying moment.
“It was around 6:20 pm when we heard a loud bang. On checking on my daughter, I saw blood on her hands. At first, I thought she had scratched herself. But when I looked closely, there was a hole in her head. I screamed for help, and her father came running,” she said.
Njoki was rushed to St. Bridget’s Hospital, where doctors tried to resuscitate her and prepare for emergency surgery. However, she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
“She was a bright, respectful, and hardworking child,” her mother said.
“Her dreams were cut short by a careless and unjust act of violence.”
Protests in Ndumberi
The incident triggered street protests in Ndumberi, with angry residents accusing the police of recklessly endangering lives in residential areas. Protesters engaged security officers in running battles on Tuesday as calls for justice intensified.
Human rights organisation Vocal Africa has condemned the killing and demanded swift investigations.
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” Vocal Africa CEO Hussein Khalid said after the post-mortem.
“If we have the bullets, we should be able to confirm the officer responsible for this heinous and careless act. We want the investigations done immediately, and the suspected officer arraigned in a court of law for murdering 12-year-old Bridget.”
Shoot-to-kill orders
Local leaders have also joined the chorus of condemnation, with Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba attributing the death to recent shoot-to-kill orders issued by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.
“I’m in pain and defeated to see many young people die from bullets during demonstrations,” Wamuchomba said.
“We can confirm that the recent order to shoot to kill by the Security Minister was taken seriously. But why shoot to kill an innocent girl?”
She urged the government to take responsibility and initiate urgent reforms in the handling of protests, particularly in densely populated areas.
Human rights organisations have now called for an independent investigation into all protest-related killings and a full public inquiry into the use of live bullets by security forces.
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