A Nairobi man has shared a harrowing account of how medical staff allegedly moved him between rooms to shield him from police officers who had arrived at the hospital shortly after he was admitted with gunshot injuries sustained during protests.
Abed Muli Kioko says the incident happened after he was shot during violent confrontations in Kware on July 14, 2024, where residents clashed with police over the retrieval of bodies from a waterlogged dumpsite.The then 25-year-old father of one was among locals who had gathered at the scene when tensions escalated between residents and officers.
Police had moved in as divers worked to recover human remains discovered in the dumpsite, triggering chaos that later turned violent.
Kioko says he was hit in the stomach as officers attempted to disperse the crowd. Bleeding heavily, he was first taken to a small clinic in Mukuru Kwa Njenga before being transferred to Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital in critical condition.
At the hospital, he recalls undergoing emergency attention as he awaited surgery to remove a bullet lodged in his body.However, shortly after his arrival, police officers reportedly entered the facility asking for information about a gunshot victim.
Medical staff, suspecting possible danger to the patient, allegedly began moving Kioko discreetly between different rooms to prevent him from being located.
A health worker at the facility, speaking privately due to sensitivity of the matter, confirmed that officers had asked about a patient with gunshot wounds but did not explain the reason for their inquiry, raising concern among staff.
Kioko was eventually taken to the theatre after his family managed to raise funds for treatment. He later regained consciousness the following day.
During the ordeal, he says members of the public helped him reach safety and also contributed money for his hospital transfer.
He adds that his mother initially dismissed news of his injury, believing it was misinformation, until she heard his voice in pain.
After discharge, Kioko filed complaints with both the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and the local police station.
He says he has not received any updates on the progress of the investigations nearly two years later.
