Grade 7 Girl Killed by Stray Bullet During Saba Saba Protests in Kiambu
The nation is mourning the tragic loss of 12-year-old Bridget Njoki Wainaina, a Grade 7 pupil who died after being hit by a stray bullet during the Saba Saba demonstrations on July 7. The incident happened inside her family’s home in Ndumberi, Kiambu County.
Bridget had stayed home from school that day due to safety concerns raised by the ongoing protests. Sadly, even while inside the safety of her house, a bullet fired by police officers found its way in and struck her, cutting her life short.
Speaking to the media, her heartbroken mother shared the chilling details of what happened that evening. According to her, everything happened so fast. She and her children were inside the house at around 6:20 p.m. when they suddenly heard a loud noise.
“It was around 6:20 in the evening when we heard a loud bang. I rushed to check on my daughter and saw blood on her hands. At first, I thought maybe she had scratched herself or been hurt by something small, but when I looked closely, I saw a hole in her head. I screamed for help, and her father ran in,” she said.
The family quickly rushed Bridget to St. Bridget’s Hospital, where doctors tried their best to save her life. They attempted to revive her and get her ready for emergency surgery, but sadly, they discovered her heart had already stopped. Despite several attempts to resuscitate her, she was pronounced dead.
Bridget’s mother, overwhelmed by grief, expressed deep sorrow over the events that led to her daughter’s death. She described Bridget as a brilliant, respectful, and hardworking child with big dreams—dreams that will now never come true.
Her death has sparked public outrage across the country, with many Kenyans and leaders raising serious concerns about the increasing cases of police brutality. Many are demanding accountability and justice for Bridget and other innocent lives lost during recent protests.
Githunguri Member of Parliament, Gathoni Wamuchomba, strongly condemned the killing. She directed her frustration at Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, blaming his recent shoot-to-kill directive for encouraging reckless use of firearms.
“I’m devastated. It hurts deeply to see our children losing their lives like this. We now see that the shoot-to-kill order by the Interior CS has been taken literally. But why would anyone shoot an innocent young girl in her own home?” Wamuchomba questioned in a statement.
Sadly, Bridget’s death is not an isolated case. Just days earlier, on July 1, during the Gen Z protests, another 12-year-old boy named Kennedy Onyango was also killed under similar circumstances.
On that day, Kennedy had stepped out to collect a book he was sharing with a classmate who lived nearby. Unfortunately, he never made it back. He was shot eight times as chaos broke out during the protests, which turned violent with gunfire, looting, and destruction continuing into the night.
Both deaths have left the country in deep shock, sparking renewed calls for police reforms and better ways to handle demonstrations without risking innocent lives—especially those of children.
Join Gen Z New WhatsApp Channel To Stay Updated On time
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
