Kibera mother in agony after child’s death in chaotic protests

Monday, 3rd April 2023

A family in Kibera is in mourning after the death of their newborn who allegedly succumbed after teargas was lobbed into their home. 

According to a report by Citizen TV, the infant inhaled the choking teargas smoke in Thursday’s protests, and hours later got complications that led to her death.

The baby’s mother, Joyce Kemunto, has now been left in torturous agony after her baby’s life was cut short.

“I had not even photographed,” Kemunto told Citizen.

“As soon as the teargas was shot at our roof, it fell into the house and the children started crying. I wiped her face with water and thought she was okay, but she continued to cry,” she added.

The mother said that the first aid response managed the effects of the toxic gas, but the baby’s health deteriorated in the evening.

“When night came, the baby started emitting foam from her nose and in an instant she was dead,” Kemunto said.

Other incidents have also been reported where police lobbed teargas canisters into civilians homes

Police have been blamed for two deaths reported from last week’s protests in Kisumu and Migori Counties.

The police have also come under scrutiny for attacking journalists covering the protests. Human Rights Organizations, activists and media stakeholders have condemned police for killings and brutality meted on demonstrators.