A Mlolongo family was left terrified after a stray bullet believed to be from police pierced their ceiling during June 25 anti-Finance Bill protests. No injuries reported.
A family in Mlolongo, Machakos County, is counting their blessings after a stray bullet believed to have been fired by police officers during nationwide anti-Finance Bill protests on Wednesday, June 25, tore through their ceiling and ricocheted through their living room — narrowly missing them.
The shocking incident occurred in the afternoon as protests raged across major towns in Kenya, marking the one-year anniversary of the 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations. It’s a grim reminder of the unintended dangers that often accompany police responses during public unrest.
Speaking to Citizen Digital, Serede Jami, the homeowner, recounted the terrifying moment a loud bang echoed through their house.
“We had just finished lunch, and it was around 2:00 pm. I was relaxing on my phone, my wife was beside me, and our daughter was at the desk. Suddenly, we heard a loud noise and then saw a hole in the ceiling,” he said.
According to Jami, the bullet pierced through the roof, struck the floor, and then ricocheted toward the front door before coming to a stop. In the ensuing panic, Jami quickly located the bullet and realized just how close his family had come to tragedy.
“Probably the police were shooting up in the air as the protests were happening about two kilometres from my house,” he explained.
While no one was physically harmed, the psychological trauma of the experience has left the family deeply shaken. Jami now questions the safety of his home, a place that should offer sanctuary from the chaos erupting in the streets.
“No Kenyan should have to feel unsafe in their own house,” he said, calling on law enforcement to reconsider the use of live ammunition in densely populated areas.
The June 25 protests were characterized by widespread unrest across Nairobi, Machakos, Kisumu, and other major towns. Demonstrators lit bonfires, barricaded roads, and clashed with riot police, who responded with volleys of teargas and, in some cases, live rounds fired into the air in attempts to disperse crowds.
The protests commemorated a year since the controversial Finance Bill 2024 was tabled, sparking the country’s largest youth-led uprising in decades. While the 2024 protests ultimately led to the withdrawal of several contentious clauses, frustrations have remained high over government spending, taxation, and allegations of police brutality.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has frequently raised alarms over the use of excessive force by law enforcement, urging reforms and accountability measures to protect civilians.
“This kind of near-tragedy could have easily turned fatal. The state must ensure the safety of innocent bystanders and uphold human rights during all security operations,” said a statement released on Wednesday evening by Amnesty International Kenya.
Local leaders in Machakos County have also called for an investigation into the incident. Mlolongo Ward MCA Josephine Kasyoka urged Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to probe police conduct during the protests and to compensate affected families.
“This is not just about one bullet. It’s about the culture of impunity in how protests are managed,” she said during a press briefing.
As the country grapples with ongoing demonstrations and a tense political climate, Jami’s story serves as a stark warning of the collateral damage that can occur when bullets fly — even far from the streets where protests unfold.
