The Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has confirmed that a male mask vendor who was shot during Tuesday’s protests in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) remains in critical condition after undergoing emergency brain surgery.
The patient, who sustained a gunshot wound to the head during the demonstrations on June 17, was brought to KNH as a referral at 3:16 PM. In a statement KNH says upon arrival at the Accident and Emergency Department, he was found to be critically ill, suffering from severe brain injury and heavy bleeding. Emergency care physician Dr. Janet Sugut led the response, stabilising his condition and placing him on life support.
A CT scan revealed that the bullet had lodged on the left side of his head. He was taken into surgery at around 8:50 PM, where a complex procedure lasting over two hours was carried out by a multidisciplinary team led by Consultant Neurosurgeon Dr. Sam Njiru. The bullet was successfully removed, and the patient was moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he remains on mechanical ventilation.
KNH has also reported that 16 patients were treated for protest-related injuries. Of these, 7 required further management, 9 were treated and discharged, 2 underwent surgery, and 4 more are scheduled for surgical procedures.
Injuries ranged from gunshot wounds to blunt trauma. One additional patient, yet to be identified, sustained a skull fracture believed to be from an assault.
