At least six people including a 12-year-old girl were shot and killed in Kiambu during Saba Saba Day protests on Monday.
The victims’ families are calling for justice over the deaths.
Among the victims is 12-year-old Bridgit Njoki, who was shot dead while watching TV at home in Ndumberi village.
Her mother Lucy Ngugi said the girl was shot in the head.
“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.
She said their home is about two kilometers from the main road where protests were taking place.
Njoki died while being resuscitated at St. Brigid’s Hospital.
The family is devastated and demanding justice for the death.
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 insisted 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 asking for justice.
“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 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 demanded for an independent investigation.
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.
“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.
At the City Mortuary, five bodies were brought in on Monday from the protests.
Officials said all had bullet wounds.
Three others lay at a morgue in Ngong.
Human rights activist Hussein Khalid led families in identifying the bodies at the mortuary in Nairobi.
He demanded action on those behind the shooting.
“We have five bodies here which were brought after the shootings in Nairobi alone,” he said.
The families are asking for help to bury the dead.
For instance, Faith Indeche who spoke at the City Mortuary in Nairobi after identifying the body of her son Elvis Musavi, 25 who was shot dead in Kangemi, Nairobi asked for help to take the body to her rural home in western for burial.
“It is painful to bury a child. Let none kill a child the way my son was killed,” she said.
Even though police said 11 people were killed in the protests that turned violent, figures compiled show more than 17 died. International Justice Mission (IJM) said it will follow up on the case of the young girl and others, to ensure that justice is served for Bridget and her family and the many families mourning the loss of their children.
“The indiscriminate use of firearms and excessive force continues to claim the lives of innocent Kenyans. We strongly condemn these killings and are alarmed by the growing death toll during protests.”
“In the past three years alone, over 140 Kenyans have lost their lives while exercising
their constitutional right to protest,” IJM said in a statement.
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