The Saba Saba protests of July 7, 2025, will go down as one of the darkest days in Kenya’s recent history, not only because of the chaos that unfolded but because children were killed by police bullets.
Among the victims was 12-year-old Bridgit Njoki who was not even near the protest scenes. She was watching television at her home in Ndumberi, Kiambu, when a bullet went through the wall and struck her.
She died shortly after at St. Brigid’s Hospital. Her story is just one among many.
At least four other teenagers aged 17 were shot dead in different counties, Dennis Njuguna in Molo, Elijah Muthoka in Roysambu, Brian Ndung’u in Ol Kalau, and Ian Opango in Rongai.
These were not criminals. They were children with dreams, gunned down by those paid to protect them.
What makes this worse is how Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen handled the situation. At first, he denied that there was any police excess during the protests. He claimed no lives had been lost to police bullets and that all actions were within the law.
Only when the media, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, and even the UN began pointing fingers did Murkomen change his tone. He suddenly admitted there had been brutality and promised that the officers involved would face charges.
But how can such a promise be taken seriously when his own hands are not clean? Videos and eyewitness reports place Murkomen at key decision points, including allegedly giving green light to lethal action against protestors approaching police stations.
His silence at the start and denial of facts only worsened the situation. He did not act like a leader but like someone desperate to cover up a crime.
Ademba Allan, a vocal voice on social media and community organizer, was among the first to list the names and ages of the dead children. His post was not just a list it was a cry for help, a call for accountability.
He shared pictures from the funerals, memorial cards, and the cries of grieving parents. The public responded in anger and pain. Comments flooded in demanding justice, questioning Murkomen’s morality, and calling for international intervention. Some even mentioned the ICC.
It’s clear that many believe the blood of these children will forever stain Murkomen’s legacy. Kenya has a long, painful history with police violence. But when leaders like Murkomen make excuses instead of acting, the cycle continues.
The Saba Saba protests were about a high cost of living, unbearable taxes, and a failed leadership. The response from the state was bullets and tear gas. Children like Bridgit and Dennis paid the ultimate price. No amount of PR or belated apologies from Murkomen can wash away that truth.
The country doesn’t just need promises of justice it needs action. It needs leaders who don’t wait until the outrage explodes to do what’s right.
And if Murkomen won’t take responsibility, then it is up to Kenyans to demand it for the sake of every child lost to state violence.
