Police stray bullet kills girl, 16, in Thika

Police in Thika are on spot after a 16-year-old girl was allegedly shot dead by a stray bullet that residents claim was fired by plain-clothes police officers in Thika’s Kiandutu slum.

Speaking at their home in Kiandutu, Penninah Wambui, an aunt to the deceased, said the girl, Carol Wanjiku, was shot by police officers who had gone to inspect a nearby scrap metal dealership.

“They found the owner was not at the shop and decided to arrest the worker, who resisted entering the vehicle.”

The officers then forcefully arrested and put him in their vehicle, an action that angered area residents.

“They started pelting stones at the officers who reacted by firing in the air. Wanjiku was hit by one of the stray bullets,” narrated her aunt.

Wanjiku was rushed to Thika Level Five Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

However, speaking to Citizen Digital, Thika Deputy OCPD Julius Kyumbu said the officers had gone to arrest a bhang peddler when they were attacked by angry residents.

Mr Kyumbu denied that the bullet that hit Wanjiku was fired by the police officers, saying investigations were underway to establish the source of the bullet.

Thika MP Alice Ng’ang’a and Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu, during a visit to the bereaved family, urged the inspector general of police to ensure the officers responsible for the shooting are brought to book.

Meanwhile, the woman who was arrested by the police officers during the incident was later released after angry residents stormed Thika Police Station.

Wanjiku’s parents are now calling for speedy investigations so that the killers of their daughter can be found and justice be done.

Report by James Gitonga / Written by Jemimah Gathoni