NAIROBI, Kenya — Tension has gripped the Huruma estate in Nairobi after 21-year-old Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) student Sheryl Adhiambo was fatally shot during a police operation on Saturday evening, sparking protests, clashes with law enforcement and urgent appeals for calm from authorities.
The National Police Service (NPS) has appealed to residents to desist from acts of violence and allow investigative processes to proceed, as the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) conducts inquiries into the circumstances surrounding Sheryl’s death.
Police confirmed the fatality occurred amid a confrontation during an arrest operation, but exact details of how the student was shot remain unclear.
PRESS STATEMENT : HURUMA RESIDENTS ASKED TO DESIST FROM ACTS OF VIOLENCE AND ALLOW FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
Incident Triggers Chaos in Huruma
According to official accounts, the unrest began after a robbery report was made at Huruma Police Station on Saturday morning.
Police officers responded, arresting two suspects, and later apprehended two more in the evening.
During the second arrest around 7:30 p.m., a suspect raised an alarm that allegedly provoked nearby youths, who began hurling stones and other projectiles at officers. Police said they fired warning shots to disperse the crowd.
Shortly after, reports emerged that a member of the public, identified as Sheryl Adhiambo, had been fatally injured in the commotion.
Residents told journalists that the student was struck by a stray bullet as officers pursued suspects in the Huruma Ngei I area, where she was helping her mother at a fish stall after returning from her final exams.
Violence and Property Damage Erupt
Sheryl’s tragic death triggered widespread unrest, with local residents engaging in running battles with police that continued into Sunday.
Roads were blocked, fires lit and at least two vehicles and a matatu were set on fire as anger simmered in the community.
Some local businesses were reportedly looted amid the chaos.
Security forces used tear gas and warning shots to try to disperse crowds and restore order.
Despite the police call for calm, streets remained tense as residents demanded answers and accountability over the circumstances that led to the young woman’s death.
Calls for Transparency and Accountability
The NPS acknowledged Sheryl’s death and said it was cooperating fully with IPOA as the oversight body investigates the incident.
In a statement, the police appealed to the public to allow due process to take place without further escalation of violence, assuring that a full documentation and accountability process is underway.
Human rights groups and community advocates have renewed calls for a transparent and independent inquiry into the use of force by police officers during the operation.
Some rights organisations have also criticised the delayed formal documentation of the shooting and have urged authorities to ensure justice for the victim’s family.
Community Grief and Demands for Justice
Sheryl, a first-year KMTC student, had reportedly just completed her examinations and was assisting her mother at their stall when she was killed.
Her death has not only sparked anger in Huruma but also reignited broader concern over police-community relations and the use of lethal force in law enforcement operations.
As the area remains on edge, residents, civic leaders and rights advocates are urging calm while demanding accountability, transparency and justice for the young woman whose life was cut short in circumstances still under investigation.
