A woman in Kirinyaga is crying for justice after her son was shot in the chest during last week's Azimio la Umoja anti-government protests in Kitengela, Kajiado County.
Rosemary Ngugi has refuted claims her son, Stephen Ngugi was part of the crowd that was demonstrating.
According to her, Ngugi, a casual laborer in the environs of Kitengela was pulling a cart full of cassava headed to the market before he was hit by a bullet in the chest.
While appealing to the police to desist from using live bullets that have cought many innocent Kenyans in the crossfire, Rosemary said a time has come for President William Ruto and Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga to allow room for dialogue in an effort to de-escalate the protests that have seen great loss of lives and destruction of property.
"I was a UDA die-hard, but you see my support for them did not spare my son from the bullet. He was busy on his errands but now he is nursing bullet wounds. This is a clear indication that the protestors do not have identification on who they elected," she said.
As a way to show remorseful for the brutality meted upon innocent Kenyans, Rosemary said the government should step in and assist the families to foot hospital bills.
"Most of our families are already struggling to put food on the table due to the high cost of living, they should show some compassion and help us clear the bills," she said.
Rosemary said at the moment she is confused and in dilemma on what will happen if her son is discharged today.
"I am not able to feed my family after selling the only sack of beans I harvested to get my son from Kajiado to Kirinyaga. Let the government chip in and pay bills for those innocent people injured in the protests," she maintained.
Her sentiments were echoed by her daughter Lillian Njeri who said her brother being a casual laborer was unaware of the protests.
Njeri said their mother was called at 4 am after Irungu was admitted at Saitoti hospital in Kajiado County.
"Irungu was not among the protestors. Actually, he was at work as a casual labourer, and whoever shot him should be held accountable," said Njeri.
She said after being shot, the officers went to check in the cart only to find it was cassava that was being transported to the market.
According to her, it is the local boda boda operators who rushed to his aid and took him to Saitoti Hospital, where he was admitted before a good Samaritan called the family to inform them he had been admitted.
"My mother was in shock, and she kept engaging the caller and requested to talk to the doctor to give her more information regarding Irungu's condition," Njeri said.
Irungu was shot in the chest, and the bullet exited on the arm. Luckily, no vital organ was hit by the bullet.
Njeri said their mother had to sell a sack of beans to get money so that she could travel to Kajiado to see her son subjecting the family to hunger.
She said they are afraid to disclose the hospital Irungu is admitted for fear of reprisal.
Irungu and three others were discharged from Saitoti hospital after the Azimio leader Raila Odinga said he would pay the bill for those injured during protests.
