KNH receives 16 protest casualties, 7 admitted with gunshot and blunt force injuries

The Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) received 16 casualties from the violent protests that were witnessed on Tuesday, acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) William Sigilai has confirmed.

Speaking to the press on Wednesday, Dr. Sigilai said that as of Tuesday evening, the hospital's accident and emergencies centre received the casualties, as nine were treated and discharged while 7 were admitted.

"Injuries ranged from gunshot wounds to blunt trauma. As of this morning, two had undergone surgery and four more were on the theatre list," he said.

Dr. Sigilai added that the hawker who was shot in the head by a police officer has not yet been formally identified, but was treated in haste as he underwent complex surgery.

The victim, believed to be Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, was found with a fractured skull in the procedure lasted for about two hours, where "an object believed to be a bullet" was removed.

"He is not yet awake but he is in a better condition that he was while he was brought it. The bullet caused damage to his brain to some extent. It is only the first 24 hours, it is hard to determine how his situation will end up, we will need more time to observe him," said Dr. Sigilai.

"Usually when we remove any foreign body from bodies of injured persons they are submitted for analysis."

The acting CEO intimated that the hospital has yet to establish the patient's real identity despite his family appearing at the hospital to identify him.

"The family has told us his name, but we are still in the process of confirming his name. We appreciate the family that has identified themselves as relatives of the patient," he added.

The patient is now under 24-hour observation at the hospital's ICU ward.

Meanwhile, Jonah Kariuki Nyambura presented himself to the hospital, identifying the ICU patient as his son, appealing for justice and speedy action.

"I saw him in the video on my phone and at around 8pm in the evening, I was called by those close to him that my son had been shot. I slept here (KNH) and in the morning, I saw him at the ICU. At least now I have hope," he said.