A 12-Year-Old Girl Shot and Killed by Police Inside Her Home >> What It Says About Kenya’s Deadly Crackdown on Protesters

Kenya is grappling with grief and anger following the tragic death of 12-year-old Bridget Njoki Wainaina, who was fatally struck by a stray bullet inside her own home in Ndumberi, Kiambu, during the Saba Saba demonstrations on July 7, 2025. 

Wainaina had stayed home that day, avoiding school due to heightened tensions in the area. What was meant to be a safety measure turned into a nightmare when a police bullet pierced the sanctity of her home and ended her young life. 

Her mother, still shaken by the harrowing experience, recounted the moments leading up to the tragedy.  

“It was around 6:20 pm when we heard a loud bang. I went to check on my daughter and saw blood on her hands. I thought she had scratched herself,” she said, “but then I noticed a hole in her head. That’s when I screamed for help.” 

The family rushed Bridget to St. Bridget’s Hospital, where doctors tried to resuscitate her and prepare for emergency surgery. But it was too late. Her heart had already stopped. Despite numerous attempts, the medical team was unable to revive her. 

Bridget’s death has ignited a wave of public outrage and drawn renewed attention to Kenya’s escalating police brutality, especially during demonstrations. Her grieving mother described her daughter as hardworking and full of promise. “We have lost a very respectful and determined girl. Her future has been stolen,” she said in anguish. 

Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba was among the first leaders to speak out, placing direct blame on recent government rhetoric. “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?” she posted. 

The “shoot-to-kill” directive issued by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has drawn sharp criticism, with many accusing the government of encouraging excessive force against unarmed civilians, including children. 

Tragically, Bridget’s death is not an isolated incident. Just over a year ago, on July 1, 2024, another 12-year-old, Kennedy Onyango, was gunned down during the Gen Z protests. Kennedy had simply stepped out to borrow a book from a neighboring classmate when he was caught in the chaos. He was reportedly shot eight times during a violent night filled with clashes, looting, and police gunfire. 

These two cases, Bridget and Kennedy, have become tragic symbols of Kenya’s growing crisis: a country where children are no longer safe in their own homes or streets during protests. The public is demanding accountability, justice, and a serious reevaluation of how law enforcement engages with demonstrators. 

As the nation mourns the death of Bridget Wainaina, the question on many lips is: how many more children must die before something changes?