The family of an innocent woman who was killed by a police bullet in Nairobi CBD has demanded justice after post mortem results revealed a cover-up by security officers in an apparent bid to save their colleagues from facing murder charges.
Reports had indicated that 30-year-old Jackline Mugure, on Thursday, February 11, was hit by a stray bullet from a police officer attached to the Kamukunji police station who was in pursuit of a robber. The incident occurred between Landhies Road and Racecourse in Nairobi CBD.
The reports were confirmed by the post mortem results which revealed that Mugure died from excessive bleeding due to a bullet wound on her throat.
However, the deceased's family raised questions as to why the police tried to cover up the murder. Media reports retrieved the police statement from the incident which indicated that Mugure died from a stab wound by the robber.
"The deceased came bleeding from the neck and alleged to have been stabbed with a knife and collapsed before giving further information," read part of the police statement.
The statement contradicted witness accounts who had also verified that Mugure had been shot by the stray bullet.
"Jackie passed away after she was caught up in the scuffle. She was hit by a stray bullet fired by one of the police officers,” a statement from an eyewitness.
The deceased's husband, Ken Ngugi noted that the matter had been taken up by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). Further, the bullet recovered from Mugure's body during the post mortem results would be used in the investigations.
The incident brought to light questions as to how police officers are trained to handle firearms in crowded places. Netizens have in the past advocated for use of rubber bullets as opposed to normal bullets.
The incident mirrored a similar case, in March 2020, where a 13-year-old boy was shot by a stray bullet from a police officer in Nairobi County.
Reports indicate that the young boy was standing on a third-floor balcony in an apartment in Kiamaiko estate when a stray bullet hit him in the stomach.
The boy was rushed to Mama Lucy hospital where he succumbed to excessive bleeding. Nairobi County Commander Phillip Ndolo alleged that the shot was accidental as the police opened fire on a gang who were flouting Covid-19 regulations.
A survey by Amnesty International indicated that more than 740 Kenyans had been killed by police since 2007.
This was backed up by data from the IPOA which showed that already 13 people had died and 31 seriously injured due to the use of excessive force by the police in the year 2021.
