- 22-year-old Julia Njoki, known as Julie, died in police custody after the Saba Saba protests
- Arrested in Nanyuki on July 7 alongside 105 others during anti-government demos
- She reportedly suffered head injuries and internal bleeding while in custody
- Activists and family allege police assault, hunger, and medical neglect
- Her case has triggered national outcry and demands for independent investigations
The family of Julia Njoki, a 22-year-old woman arrested during the Saba Saba protests in Nanyuki, is mourning her tragic death after she was found unconscious in police custody and later died in the hospital.
Julie, as she was fondly called, was among 106 youth detained on July 7 for participating in the peaceful demonstrations. She was later arraigned in court and taken back into custody, but within hours, she had lost consciousness.
According to her aunt’s social media post, doctors discovered internal bleeding in her head, injuries suspected to have been caused by a blow. By the time she received proper medical attention at Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital, her condition had worsened beyond recovery.
Footage circulating online shows detainees in distress, weak, and collapsing, allegedly due to a lack of food, water, and medical care. Human rights groups believe Julia’s case is part of a larger pattern of abuse targeting young protesters.
Outrage has since spread online, with the hashtag #JusticeForJuliaNjoki becoming a rallying cry for thousands demanding answers. Kenyans are now calling on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to conduct an urgent, impartial investigation into what happened at the Nanyuki police station.
As Julia’s family mourns, activists warn that her story is just one of many from this year’s youth protests. Calls for justice are growing louder, not only for Julia but for all victims of police brutality during peaceful demonstrations.
