Families in Kiambu are mourning loved ones after police opened fire during Saba Saba Day protests, killing six people, including a 12-year-old girl who was shot while watching television at home.

The tragedy has left communities reeling and families demanding accountability, compensation, and an independent investigation into what they describe as unjustified use of lethal force by police.

In Ndumberi village, the death of young Bridgit Njoki has left her family shattered. Her mother, Lucy Ngugi, painfully recalled the moment the bullet tore through their home.

“It was around 6:20 pm, we were at home as a family when a stray bullet penetrated our house and caught my daughter on the head,” she said. The family lives about two kilometers from the main road where protests were unfolding. Njoki died during attempts to resuscitate her at St. Brigid's Hospital.

Her death, away from the protest scenes, has sparked outrage among residents who now fear even being inside their own homes does not guarantee safety during times of unrest.

Elsewhere in Kiambu town, the family of 23-year-old Dennis Mutuma Mwangi is also grieving. His mother, Friday Kawira, said her son was not part of the demonstrations but had stepped out of their house after doing his laundry.

“My son was shot from the back, meaning he was running away and it came through to the neck killing him instantly right outside our home,” she said.

Another life lost was that of Laban Kamau, who was shot in the head in Ndumberi. His mother, Margaret Wangui, questioned why police used such force in their quiet community.

“Ndumberi is a village and not town center, we were shocked to see such protests which has left me without a son. It is so hurtful since my son is not a criminal to be gunned down like that,” she said.

In Kabete constituency, 18-year-old Kevin Muiruri was injured after a bullet hit his left leg as he fled from the chaos. He is now nursing serious injuries as his family grapples with the unexpected ordeal.

The families say they are now burdened with high mortuary and post-mortem fees at Kiambu Level Five Hospital and are urging the government to take full responsibility, including paying for burial expenses.

They termed the killings as unwarranted and blamed the police for using live ammunition against unarmed citizens.

Former Kiambu MP Jude Njomo, who visited the affected families, called for an impartial inquiry into the shootings.

“How can the police who have killed the young people investigate themselves? We need international bodies to investigate and give the dead who were shot by police justice,” he said.

Njomo also questioned the accuracy of official reports, noting that authorities had only confirmed one death in Kiambu while six families had already come forward to identify their loved ones.

The call for justice is growing louder in Kiambu as the victims’ families seek answers and accountability for what they say were unprovoked killings.

The pain of losing children, brothers, and sons in their own neighbourhoods now hangs heavy over the community , a haunting reminder of the deadly cost of protest response gone wrong.