Protests are a way of life for many people in informal settlements, but when death knocks, it's a different story.
Joyce Kemunto, a resident of Raila village in the Kibra slums, is one such example. The mother of six is still grieving the death of her four-month-old child, who was suffocated by teargas fumes ten days ago.
According to reports, the infant died after a canister thrown by anti-riot police during the March 30 demonstrations exploded, engulfing the shanty in a cloud of smoke too strong for the baby.
Kemunto says the girl was full of life before things took a tragic turn following the ensuing confrontation between police and locals that Thursday before President William Ruto's truce on April 2.
It all started when teargas was thrown over their iron sheet house, rolled on the roof, and exploded through the door.
"As I washed for a neighbour, the kids were playing on the seat. They began crying because they were overwhelmed by the fumes; I tried to wash their faces, but the teargas was too strong for them," she said.
Kemunto hoped her daughter would recover from the teargas, but her newborn's condition deteriorated as dusk approached.
"As darkness fell, I realised her condition was deteriorating because she was dripping from her nose," Kemunto recalled. Her daughter died just as she was about to be rushed to the hospital.
This isn't an isolated incident. Dozens of families have lost loved ones, while others have been injured as a result of the Azimio protests, which were put on hold last Sunday.
A family in Nairobi's Kayole estate is mourning the death of their son Derick Nyambanga, who was allegedly shot by police during the protests.
Roselyn Nyanduku, his mother, insists her son died as a result of a stray bullet fired by the riot police.
The 20-year-old was an ice cream vendor making a delivery at Greenspan estate when he was caught up in the skirmishes as police engaged protestors.
"We spent the entire day here, eating lunch as a family. He got a call in the afternoon from one of his clients who ordered some ice cream," Nyanduku says.
The woman received word that Nyambanga had been shot dead less than 20 minutes after her son had left.
His uncle Samson Meroka said Nyambanga had obtained a passport and was planning to travel to Turkey to study and work part-time. Meroka said his nephew had a promising future that was cut short by a bullet.
"How can innocent lives be sniffed out of these young people who were brimming with life the other minute?"
Government pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor said Nyambanga's death was caused by a severe head injury caused by a high-velocity firearm shot. Police officers have also been accused of shooting a form three student in Pipeline area who was on his way to pick up revision papers from his brother in the nearby Tel Aviv estate.
Jepher Mohammed, a Form Four student at Glorious Group of Schools, is recovering from surgery on his knee in Fedha estate.
His father Mohammed Aden says Jepher was on his way from a mosque for evening prayers in the estate. Aden noticed his 18-year-old son crossing the road back towards their Tassia home. "We were all away when this happened. A good samaritan picked my son from the ground and took him to the nearby Bristol Park Hospital in Fedha where he was attended to," Aden said.
Dr Jeff Ngomi, who attended to him said the doctors managed to remove the bullet before he was referred for specialised treatment.
"We removed the bullet but some of the fragments are still lodged in the right knee," said Dr Ngomi. The fragments were removed at Nairobi South Hospital where Jepher was transferred to.
Embakasi South MP Babu Owino who has settled some of the victims' hospital bills accused police of using unjustifiable force.
"Police had teargas canisters, rubber bullets and water cannons to disburse the demonstrators. Why did they use live bullets on school-going children?" he said.
Rosemary Nakayenzi, 48, was returning back from work when a bullet hit her left leg. "I thought I had been hit by a stone but the blood was too much. It was only later that I realised I had been shot. The pain had intensified," she said.
Nakayenzi has undergone an operation at Kenyatta National Hospital where she is recuperating. "Yes I am recuperating but I don't know where I will get the money to foot my hospital bill," she said.
Brian Omondi, 23, and his 14-year-old friend Boniface Ondieki sustained serious injuries that saw them admitted to Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Omondi's mother Evelyne Onyego said the two friends were shot from the balcony of her house at River Bank in Embakasi.
She said Omondi was shot in the thigh while Ondieki, a Grade Six student, sustained arm injuries.
