Wamuzi News Ke
A harrowing tragedy unfolded during the Saba Saba protests when 12‑year‑old Bridgit Njoki was fatally struck by a police-fired bullet inside her family home, leaving the nation reeling.
A post‑mortem examination has confirmed that a live police projectile penetrated Njoki’s skull while she was watching television, causing irreversible brain trauma that claimed her life. The bullet has been handed over to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) as part of an investigation into the use of force by security agencies.
Bridgit’s mother, Lucy Ngugi, received the autopsy report at their Ndumberi residence and collapsed upon reading its contents. Family members described a scene of deep grief, with Ngugi requiring support just to stand.
The community erupted in anger following the revelation. Protests have emerged across Ndumberi, where residents demand accountability and justice for the innocent teenager who perished not on the protest frontlines but while inside her own home.
Authorities Respond to Outrage
Local leaders and human rights activists have called for an immediate, independent investigation. Former Kiambu MP Jude Njomo stated, “Police cannot be trusted to investigate themselves,” and urged international bodies to step in, citing conflicting accounts of the death toll.
Scores of families in Kiambu have been charged for post‑mortem and mortuary services even as they grapple with the loss of loved ones allegedly killed by police bullets—a development that has intensified demands for government accountability.
A National Flashpoint
Bridgit’s killing is at least one of six confirmed deaths in Kiambu County following the Saba Saba protests. Nationwide, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights estimates at least 31 deaths, over 100 injuries, and more than 500 arrests, highlighting the scale of the violence.
The death of a child in their own living room has elevated public outrage to a new height, prompting activists to question the proportionality of police force and whether constitutional guarantees can shield citizens from state violence.
Lessons in Liability
This tragedy underscores a systemic failure in protocol and accountability. Police chiefs maintain that live bullets are used only in extreme situations. However, Bridgit’s death inside a residential property starkly challenges such defenses and demands clarity in command procedures during crowd control.
What Comes Next
Activists and community leaders are calling for:
- A full, transparent inquiry led by an independent commission.
- The release of all evidence related to police engagement during the protests.
- Compensation and support for affected families covering hospital and funeral expenses.
- Urgent reforms in crowd-control policies, including limitations on live ammunition deployment in civilian zones.
The country is watching as the government responds to this crisis. The killing of Bridgit exposes a fault line in Kenya’s social contract—if state security overrides safety for innocent civilians, public trust risks collapsing, and impunity could take hold.
