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Davji Atellah discloses threats before police assault during medics’ protest
25th July, 2025 02:17 AM
Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Dr Davji Atellah has disclosed that he received threats before and during the February 29, 2024, medics’ protest that ultimately resulted in him being grievously injured.
Speaking to a local media station on Thursday, July 24, 2025, Dr Atellah said he had been warned before the protest not to participate, which he declined.
He added that during the demonstration, the police officer who ultimately injured him also issued a stark warning ordering him not to continue participating in the protest.
“Before I got shot last year in February, I was informed that I was told not to go demonstrate today, let this matter slide, and when we were demonstrating, the police officer who actually shot me with the teargas canister told me also, if you proceed beyond this point, I will take you out. Those were real, genuine threats that happened,” Atellah said.
The SG went on to say that even when he was calling for the medic’s strike in December 2024, he received threats.
“When I was calling for the next strike in December, it was a repetition of the same thing,” he added.
The incident
Dr. Atellah was struck by a teargas canister during the peaceful protests by the medics on February 29, 2024, in Nairobi.
Following the incident, KMPDU condemned the attack, saying that Attelah was injured while leading medical interns in a peaceful march in Nairobi on Thursday, February 29.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the shooting of our SG @Davji by the police this afternoon when he was leading the Medical interns in peaceful March.
“The doctors of Kenya have endured enough! This is the straw that breaks the camel’s back,” KMPDU said in a post on X.
Attellah was rushed to a city hospital for medical attention.
A photo seen by K24 Digital shows the KMPDU boss in a hospital bed, with blood on his face and suit.
