Saba Saba protests: 12-year-old girl shot dead while watching TV at home

The victims' families are demanding justice, compensation, and an independent investigation into the use of live bullets by police.

Among the victims is Lucy Ngugi, mother of 12-year-old Bridgit Njoki, who was shot dead while watching TV at home in Ndumberi village. 

"It was around 6:20 pm, we were at home as a family when a stray bullet penetrated our house and caught my daughter on the head," Ngugi recounted, adding that their home is 2 kilometers from the main road where protests were taking place. Njoki died while being resuscitated at St. Brigid's Hospital.

Another victim, Dennis Mutuma Mwangi, 23, was shot dead outside his home in Kiambu town. 

His mother, Friday Kawira, tearfully stated, "My son was shot from the back, meaning he was running away and it came through to the neck killing him instantly right outside our home." 

She insists her son was not protesting but had just stepped outside to see what was happening after washing his clothes.

Laban Kamau was also shot in the head in Ndumberi village. His mother, Margaret Wangui, expressed her shock: "Ndumberi is a village and not town center, we were shocked to see such protests which has left me without a son. It is so hurtful since my son is not a criminal to be gunned down like that."

The families, that are being charged mortuary and post-mortem bills at Kiambu Level Five Hospital are calling on the government to cover hospital bills and burial preparations. They say "impromptu killings were uncalled for since live bullets were used by police to disperse protestors."

The violence also left 18-year-old Kevin Muiruri with gunshot injuries on his left leg. He was shot in Kabete constituency while running away from the skirmishes. 

Former Kiambu MP, Jude Njomo, who visited the grieving families, echoed calls for an independent investigation. 

"How can the police who have killed the young people investigate themselves? We need international bodies to investigate and give the dead who were shot by police justice," he stated. 

Njomo also criticized police for allegedly understating the number of casualties, citing report of only one death in Kiambu despite six fatalities confirmed by families.