Family seeks justice after Form 4 student killed by stray bullet in Nakuru

Whitney Atieno, 19, was hit by a stray bullet on Sunday while police were pursuing suspected criminals.

According to reports, Ms Atieno had gone to a salon in Lake View Estate, Nakuru Town East to get her hair plaited in preparation for school on Monday.

While at the salon, Atieno and her friend Ruth Waithera heard a commotion at a distance and ventured out to satisfy their curiosity.

The infamous gang 'Confirm,' which is well-known in the area, was being pursued by local cops. A cop fired a shot from his gun, striking Waithera in the arm and piercing through to hit Atieno in the chest.

When the police realized the danger posed by their colleague's actions, they ordered the driver to leave, but the now-enraged crowd forced them to transport the two to the hospital.

"The commanding officer asked the families to fuel the vehicle so they could take the girls to hospital. The crowd, however, forced them to rush the girls to hospital with the escort of a few residents," said a witness speaking to the Nation. 

They were then taken to Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital where Atieno succumbed to her injury.

Atieno's younger sister recalled the fateful day, saying she was in their house when she heard gunshots. Approaching the roadside to see what had occurred, she saw her sister on the ground bleeding profusely.

"She was bleeding. I pleaded with the police to take her to hospital but they asked me to fuel the vehicle or look for a motorcycle or a taxi," she said.

"In the ward my sister kept assuring me that she would be fine. I remember her last words so vividly. She told me to tell my other siblings that she loves them."

The incident has sparked protests in Nakuru, with Atieno's mother, Rebecca Bulimo, blaming Bondeni station commander for his son's death because he was in charge of the operation.

Wilson Nduati, the acting police commander for Nakuru East Sub-County, has condoled with Atieno's family, saying that the police had to fire the shot to scare away youths who had attacked them while pursuing the gang.

Nduati has assured that proper action will be taken against the officer "if found to have gone against the law."