Saba Saba: Tension In Kiambu After 12-Year-Old Hit By Stray Police Bullet Dies

Kenya is grieving the tragic loss of 12-year-old Bridget Njoki Wainaina, who was fatally hit by a stray police bullet while inside her home in Ndumberi, Kiambu, on July 7, the demise threatening to ignite fresh protests in the town as of Tuesday, July 8.

By the time of going to press, photos and videos seen by Viral Tea showed hundreds of residents gathering in crowds at Kiambu Town.

Bridget had stayed home that day due to the unrest linked to the Saba Saba protests. Sadly, despite seeking safety indoors, a stray bullet fired by police struck and killed her.

Her mother recounted the heartbreaking moment to journalists, saying she was in the house with her children around 6:20 pm when they suddenly heard a loud gunshot.

The family of Bridget Njoki Wainaina at their home in Kiriguini, Ndumberi, July 8, 2025. /BRIDGET NJOKI WAINAINA

"It was around 6:20 pm when we heard a loud bang. On checking on my daughter, I saw that she had blood on her hands. At first, I thought something had scratched her, but upon looking carefully, I noticed she had a hole on her head. That's when I shouted for help, and her father came in," the mother narrated.

The family rushed Bridget to St. Bridget's Hospital, where doctors tried to revive her and prep her for surgery. Unfortunately, they found her heart had already stopped. Despite several attempts to resuscitate her, she was pronounced dead.

Devastated by the loss, Bridget’s mother condemned the circumstances that led to her daughter's death. She described Bridget as a dedicated and respectful girl with big dreams — dreams now tragically cut short.

Her death has sparked outrage across the country, with citizens and leaders expressing concern over growing incidents of police brutality.

Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba also weighed in, strongly condemning the killing and criticising Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen over his recent shoot-to-kill directive.

''I’m in pain and defeated to see many young people die from bullets during demonstrations. We can confirm that the recent order to shoot to kill by the Security Minister was taken seriously. But why shoot to kill an innocent girl?'' Wamuchomba wrote.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reported that at least 10 people lost their lives during protests that erupted in various parts of the country, though media reports suggest that this number might be higher.

In a statement released Monday evening, the commission also noted 29 injuries, two abductions, and 37 arrests. Shooting incidents were reported in areas including Ngong, Thika, Juja, Embu and Kangemi in Nairobi, and Dagoretti, among others.

This isn’t the first time a child has been killed in the chaos of an armed police response during protests. On July 1, 2024, amid the Gen Z demonstrations, 12-year-old Kennedy Onyango also lost his life in a similar tragic manner.

That evening, Kennedy had stepped out briefly to collect a book he was sharing with a classmate nearby. Tragically, he never made it back—he was shot eight times in the midst of escalating violence, as the protests spiralled into a night of gunfire, looting, and unrest.

Anti-riot police officers fire teargas to disperse demonstrators during the Saba Saba anti-government protests in Nakuru, Kenya, July 7, 2025. /YAHOO NEWS