Bridgit Njoki, a vibrant 12-year-old, was tragically shot in her home amidst escalating protests in Kenya against rising living costs and government policies. Her family's grief represents a deepening crisis of violence in the country, as calls for accountability grow louder.
Tragic Death of 12-Year-Old Bridgit Njoki Highlights Violence in Kenya's Protests
Tragic Death of 12-Year-Old Bridgit Njoki Highlights Violence in Kenya's Protests
The shooting of a young girl during anti-government protests in Kenya has drawn international condemnation and calls for justice.
As anti-government protests erupted on Monday across Kenya, a family's joy was shattered when 12-year-old Bridgit Njoki was shot while watching television in her home. Unbeknownst to her, the mounting tensions between protesters and police would invade the safety of her living room.
Njoki's mother, Lucy Ngugi, recalls the horrific moment a single bullet came through their roof and struck her daughter in the head. "She was my everything," Ngugi lamented amidst tears in their home just outside Nairobi. "I wish she was even playing outside… but inside the house? Oh Lord, this is painful." Njoki's tragic death marks one of the youngest casualties amidst the turmoil that has gripped Kenya in recent weeks, with almost 70 reported fatalities during protests decrying the rising costs of living, tax hikes, and police brutality.
On the day of her death, the government fortified major roads in anticipation of the protests. Eyewitness accounts reveal police employing tear gas and live ammunition in civilian areas as tensions escalated. Njoki's grandmother recounted the moment her mother rushed in, crying, "Mum, my child has been shot!"
Though authorities refuted claims that a bullet could reach their home from the protests located 1.2 miles away, the family's assertions were vindicated by a post-mortem examination, which confirmed the presence of a bullet in Njoki's body, reinforcing their tragic account.
Njoki, a promising student at Benson Njau School, was celebrated as a diligent learner and cherished by her family for her affectionate nature and sense of responsibility. "She was always number one in her class," her grandmother remembered, while Njoki's parents grieve silently amidst the void left behind. Her father, overwhelmed with sorrow, struggles to speak, and her siblings remain quiet.
With rising international concern over police behavior — criticized for using "lethal ammunition" against demonstrators — Nyuki's family is left calling for justice in a seemingly unending cycle of violence. As the family mourns, calls arise for peace, urging authorities to address the grievances that have fueled this unrest.
Njoki's mother stated poignantly, "Let Njoki be the last sacrifice of these protests." The memory of her daughter—and others lost—has ignited a plea for dialogue, compassion, and a commitment to ensure the safety of every child in their nation. As Kenya grapples with upheaval, Njoki stands as a heartbreaking symbol of innocence caught in the crossfire of political strife.
