A Nakuru County mother is demanding justice after her 13-year-old son narrowly survived a police shooting during nationwide fuel price protests in the Free Area estate last week.
Lydia Wambui recounted the traumatic events of May 18, when her son, Joseph Njuguna, a Grade Seven pupil at Madaraka Primary School, was struck by a bullet as clashes erupted between protesters and anti-riot police in the densely populated neighbourhood.
The demonstrations, triggered by rising fuel prices, turned violent after youths barricaded the Nakuru-Nairobi highway with stones and burning tyres, bringing traffic to a standstill and prompting a heavy police response.
Wambui said the day had begun routinely before schools were abruptly closed as tensions escalated.
“At around 10am, we were told to collect our children from school. Since I was unwell, my neighbour picked up my son. They arrived home safely, and I asked them to remain within the compound,” she said.
However, as confrontations intensified, police reportedly pursued protesters into residential areas while firing live bullets to disperse crowds.
At around midday, Wambui briefly left home to tend to a nearby farm, leaving her children playing near the gate.
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“I heard gunshots, but by then it had become normal because the shooting had continued since morning. Suddenly, someone screamed and asked me to check on my son, who had fallen,” she recalled.
She rushed back to find Joseph bleeding from the right side of his face.
“When I looked closely, I could see metal lodged in his jaw. I screamed for help,” she said.
Neighbours rushed the injured boy to a nearby dispensary on a motorcycle before he was transferred to Nakuru Level V Hospital for specialised treatment.
Joseph underwent surgery to remove the bullet and remained hospitalised for three days before being discharged.
“He underwent surgery and the bullet was removed. He stayed in the hospital for three days before he was discharged,” Wambui said.
Doctors later informed the family that the boy had narrowly escaped life-threatening injuries.
Although Joseph is now able to speak and take soft foods, he has not returned to school as doctors continue to monitor his recovery. According to his mother, the ordeal has left both of them deeply traumatised.
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Wambui said she first reported the shooting at Mwariki Police Station but claimed no action was taken. She later escalated the matter to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which confirmed awareness of the incident.
Now seeking accountability, the mother says the family has already spent at least KSh17,000 on medical treatment, with additional costs expected during follow-up care.
Neighbour Patricia Wairimu condemned what she described as excessive force by police during the protests.
“It is painful that a child living more than a kilometre away from the highway could still be caught up in the violence,” she said.
The incident has renewed concerns over police conduct during public demonstrations, particularly the use of live ammunition in residential areas.
By Frank Mugwe
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