Mediamax journalist Catherine Wanjeri Kariuki has accused police officers of deliberately targeting her after she was shot three times while covering anti-government protests in Nakuru on Tuesday, July 16.
During a media briefing on Thursday, July 18, Wanjeri revealed that she had been struck by a teargas canister earlier before the shooting occurred.
“I am convinced I was targeted because this wasn’t the first time I had been targeted. In an earlier protest, I was hit with a teargas canister, but I didn’t report or escalate the incident,” she said.
Wanjeri shared that she had shown her colleagues a scar from the teargas canister, which was on the same leg where she was later shot.
On the day of the incident, Wanjeri left home around 1:30 pm to cover the protests, expecting to complete her work and return safely.
“Little did I know I would end up in a hospital with stitches in my thigh,” she reflected.
She recounted that just seven minutes before the shooting, her mother had called her, urging her to stay safe.
Wanjeri had three rubber bullets lodged in her thigh, which have since been removed. Doctors have confirmed she is out of danger, though Wanjeri remains unsure how long her recovery will take or the extent of the scarring.
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