A 10-year-old girl has sustained bullet injuries after she was shot during the Tuesday’s anti-Finance Bill protests in Machakos County.
Vaati Mueni was reportedly shot in the foot during the protests at the Miwani area on the outskirts of Machakos town as demonstrators engaged police in running battles.
A video of the girl seen by the Star shows the minor writhing in pain as a woman carries her on the back.
The woman whom the Star couldn’t immediately establish her identity is heard responding affirmatively as a man inquires whether the bullet logged in the girl’s leg was fired during the demonstrations.
The girl was rushed to Machakos Level 5 Hospital for medication where she was still admitted by press time.
In another incident within Machakos town, a 27–year–old man sustained injuries after a teargas canister exploded on his leg.
Ahmed Omar’s leg got injured after the canister discharged by a cop with intent to disperse the protesters hit him on the leg and exploded during the Tuesday protests.
Police were forced to fire teargas canisters at the tens of youths who kept surging during the protests. They engaged police officers in running battles for close to five hours.
The sound of live bullets rented the air within the town and its environs for at least three hours as the officers tried to keep off the demonstrators to avoid the destruction of property and breaching various critical infrastructure.
There are claims that the officers eventually used live bullets to scare away the rioters after they ran out of tear gas canisters.
The situation caused business to be at a standstill in Machakos town for the better part of the day. Shops and offices wer closed as motorists keep off the Nairobi – Machakos route during the demonstrations.
The demonstrators also torched the Machakos County Assembly during the melee.
The youth lit fires, barricaded roads using stones and pulled down several signposts on Machakos roads.
They gained access to Machakos County Government headquarters and destroyed properties including vehicles that were parked in the premises. At least two motor vehicles were torched in the compound.
In Kangundo, Machakos, County government offices were also torched alongside a tractor.
Kangundo MP Fabian Kyule's office was also torched during the protests.
The protestors unsuccessfully attempted to access Machakos MP Caleb Mule's offices within Machakos Township but they were repulsed by anti-riot police officers.
