At least 24 protesters are on admission to Kitengela Sub-County Hospital with gunshot wounds following anti-government demonstrations. Chaos erupted in Kitengela town on Tuesday when suspected outsiders joined the protests and began looting. Police responded by dispersing the crowds with teargas from 3 PM onwards.
In total, 38 protesters are on treatment at the hospital. Lemuta Saila, the clinical officer in charge, reported that 24 of these patients had gunshot injuries. The victims, aged between 20 and 43, includes three critically injured individuals who were transferred to Kenyatta National Hospital and Machakos Level Five Hospital.
All 24 gunshot victims were male, while another 12 patients, including women, sustained soft tissue injuries. By midday yesterday, five protesters had undergone surgery to remove bullets. “We are using a single operating theatre and one surgeon. We expect to treat all patients by the end of the day,” Saila stated.
Media interviewed Charles Kuria, 28, who was recovering after surgery. He recounts bullets in the lower leg by police during the protests. “Picketing is a constitutional right,” he emphasized. In the same ward, Peter Ndung’u, 42, had a bullet lodged in his neck, and Samuel Waruiru had gunshot wounds to the head and chest. Both men denied participating in the protesters demos.
