Kiambu erupts in protests after 12-year-old girl killed by stray bullet during Saba Saba demos
Protesters lit bonfires and blocked major roads, including the busy Kiambu-Limuru Road, which had become highly volatile by mid-afternoon.
Grief and outrage swept through Kiambu town on Tuesday following the death of 12-year-old Bridgit Njoki, who was allegedly killed by a stray police bullet during the July 7 Saba Saba protests.
Her death sparked renewed demonstrations, with hundreds of residents pouring into the streets to express their anger over reported police brutality.
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Protesters lit bonfires and blocked major roads, including the busy Kiambu-Limuru Road, which had become highly volatile by mid-afternoon.
While no major incidents of vandalism were reported, a heavy police presence was deployed to control the crowds and secure key entry points into the town.
Njoki, a resident of Ndumberi village, was reportedly watching television at home—approximately two kilometres from the protest zone—when a bullet pierced through the house and fatally struck her.
“We were in the house with my daughter around 6:20 pm when we heard a bang. I saw my daughter with blood on her hands. We thought she had cut herself, but when I looked at her, she fell to the ground. She had a hole in her head,” her mother, Lucy Ngugi, recounted in tears.
The family rushed Njoki to St Brigid’s Hospital, where doctors tried to resuscitate her and prepare her for surgery.
Dead
“They discovered her heart had stopped beating. After several attempts, they were forced to declare her dead,” the grieving mother said.
Earlier in the day, police had set up roadblocks leading into Kiambu town in anticipation of possible unrest. However, despite the heightened security, residents later poured into the streets, demanding accountability from the police.
Among the casualties reported during Monday’s protests was 23-year-old Dennis Mutuma Mwangi, who was allegedly shot from behind while standing outside his home after completing laundry. His mother, Friday Kawira, said the bullet exited through his neck, killing him instantly outside their gate.
Another victim, Laban Kamau from the same village, was also shot in the head.
“My son was not a criminal and did not deserve to die in such a violent way,” his mother, Margaret Wangui said.
Mortuary costs
Families affected by the tragedy now say they are shouldering the costs of mortuary fees and post-mortems at Kiambu Level Five Hospital, despite the deaths resulting from police action.
They are demanding justice, compensation, and an independent probe into what they describe as “unprovoked and excessive use of force” on unarmed civilians.
Eighteen-year-old Kevin Muiruri, a student from Kabete constituency, was also injured during the demonstrations. He said he was shot in the left leg while running away from the chaos.
“Police just left me there. It was well-wishers who helped me get to the hospital,” Muiruri claimed.
Former Kiambu MP Jude Njomo visited the bereaved families and called for an independent and international inquiry into the killings.
“The police cannot investigate themselves. They only acknowledged one death in Kiambu, yet families have confirmed six fatalities,” he said.
Residents have also voiced concern over the alleged deployment of hired goons by authorities in the Mt. Kenya region.
They claim that police have been targeting innocent bystanders while allowing the real perpetrators of violence and looting to go unpunished.
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