Police Brutality Scandal Rocks Nation: Family Demands Answers After Woman Shot Dead
A woman has died at Kenyatta National Hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound during a police operation in Gikomba Market, with a teenager also injured. The victim's family alleges a cover-up and calls for an investigation into the incident, particularly questioning the disappearance of the bullet. Human rights groups and the family are appealing to top government officials for accountability.
A 44-year-old woman, Maureen Nduku Nzwile, tragically died at Kenyatta National Hospital early Friday after succumbing to a gunshot wound she sustained during a police operation earlier in the week. The fatal incident occurred on Monday at the bustling Gikomba Market. During the same shooting, 16-year-old Abdallah Lihani was also critically injured and is still fighting for her life at the same hospital.
According to eyewitness accounts, officers attached to Shauri Moyo Police Station were reportedly responding to a distress call concerning suspected phone snatchers. It is alleged that a bullet discharged from one of the officers, first striking Nduku on the back, exiting her abdomen, and then hitting Lihani’s thigh. Both victims were immediately rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital.
While Nduku later succumbed to her injuries, her family has raised serious allegations of an attempted cover-up. They claim that some officers visited Nduku in the hospital and offered apologies. Margaret Kieti, the deceased's sister-in-law, recounted Nduku's statement after coming out of theatre, where she reportedly told her that police officers had visited her ward, asked for forgiveness, and that she could recognize them.
A central and alarming mystery in the case is the disappearance of the bullet that caused Nduku’s death. The family alleges that an unidentified man, described as wearing black suits and a face mask, visited the hospital and took the crucial ammunition. This missing evidence has fueled suspicions of a cover-up.
In response to the gravity of the situation, the families of the victims have lodged a formal complaint with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). IPOA has since launched investigations into the precise circumstances surrounding the shooting, opening one file specifically for the case due to the single bullet involved.
Human rights organization Vocal Africa has also joined the families in seeking answers, particularly from Kenyatta National Hospital, regarding the bullet removed from Nduku. Vocal Africa Chief Hussein Khalid expressed concern, stating, “According to families, that bullet was removed and up to this point in time, we don't know who took the bullet.” He further confirmed that IPOA does not possess the bullet, despite cases of police excesses typically being investigated by them. Khalid added that the family informed him that officers from Shauri Moyo Police Station had repeatedly inquired about the bullet at the hospital and when Nduku would be taken to theatre. He questioned a potential change in the account of the shooting, noting attempts to link it to criminals despite officers reportedly apologizing to the deceased.
Khalid stressed the importance of preserving the bullet as evidence and its transfer to IPOA for investigation. He issued a strong appeal to the highest office in the country, including Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, stating, “This is an acid test for you,” urging them to take action against rogue police officers and ensure firearms are entrusted only to those capable of handling them responsibly.