Family demands justice after stray bullet kills kin, injures 16-year-old in Pipeline

The family of Moreen Nduku from Pipeline estate is crying out for justice after she was shot by a police officer at Gikomba market.

The bullet passed through her body and struck 16-year-old Abdala Lihan, lodging in his leg. Moreen, a mother of one, died on Friday at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) after four days of treatment.

Tthe family alleges that the bullet removed from Abdala’s leg has mysteriously disappeared, while the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) remains silent despite claims the officer involved was attached to Shauri Moyo Police Station.

On Monday, August 3, 44-year-old Moreen and Abdala were at Gikomba Market on routine errands. Police officers stormed the area, claiming they were pursuing phone thieves, and fired shots into the air.

"Tulikuwa tunaenda Gikomba tukafika kwa bridge tukasikia risasi mbili juu…sisi tukapangishwa line, kuna polisi alikuwa hapo ameinua hivi bunduki akasema mkiona kitu kama hii mniokotee…kijana flani akaiokota akaichukua…ilikuwa magazine, after huyu polisi alikuwa ameinuia bunduki juu akainama hivi chini akapea polisi mwengine magazine sasa…kuingiza hivi magazine ikalipuka ikapita kwa mama flani kwa tumbo na ikakuja kwangu," recalled Abdala.

Abdala’s mother Stela Mwalimo recounted the moment her son was shot: "Niliuliza askari hakuna njia ingine mngetumia kushika na kutawanya wezi? Akaniambia mama unajua hawa wezi walikuwa wamesumbua watu kwa hii daraja sana."

X-ray images confirm the bullet pierced Moreen before lodging in Abdala’s leg. Moreen was rushed to the ICU, where she succumbed on Friday after four days.

Hussein Khalid, Vocal Africa CEO, said: "According to the family hao police officers were milling around the family wakiulizia hiyo bullet for several days, wakiulizia huyo mtoto atapelekwa theatre siku gani na hiyo bullet itatolewa siku gani, and then out of nowhere the bullet is missing, now there is a clear attempt to cover up."

Mwalimo said: “Lakini before wale maaskari waende walimwambia yule daktari utuwekee hiyo kitu vizuri lakini huyo nurse akawaambia you have to follow the right procedure."

Human rights activists accuse the government of negligence and silence over the incident.

"Sasa wamegeuza story wanasema ati within that area there were other criminals who had a gun and probably they were the ones who shot. How then do you confirm you were the one who took the shot and kama si wewe kwanini mlikuja hospitali mkiulizia hiyo bullet and why is it that IPOA hawana hiyo bullet and Kenyatta National Hospital must answer must respond to that issue, hio bullet wametoa wamepatia nani?"