Govt issues update on condition of man shot during protest
The Director General of Health Patrick Amoth has issued an update on the condition of the man shot by a police officer at close range during the Tuesday, June 17, 2025, protest.
Speaking to the press on the night of Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Amoth disclosed that the face mask seller had received first aid at the facility, and that specialist doctors were preparing to conduct an emergency surgery on him.
“The patient was received here at around 4:00 pm. He was promptly evaluated by the emergency team, the necessary first aid administered and tests conducted,” Amoth said.
Identity unclear
While noting that they were unable to identify the man or establish his age, Amoth revealed that he was already in the theatre with a team of neurosurgeons attending to him.
“We still don’t have his details in terms of name and age. Evaluation by the neurosurgeons indicated that he required to undergo an emergency neurosurgical procedure, and the patient is in the theatre with the neurosurgical team,” Amoth noted.
The Director General equally disclosed that the team of specialist doctors at the Kenyatta National Hospital had prepared an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) bed, where the victim would be admitted after the surgical procedure.
ICU support on standby
“As a precaution, we have prepared an ICU bed because a case of such nature requires ICU support immediately after the post-operation period,” he observed.
The shooting of the hawker has drawn widespread condemnation from across the country, with the nation yet to dispense with a similar incident in which a man was killed in police custody.
Reacting to the incident, the National Police Service said that the police officer caught on camera shooting the victim had been arrested and would be arraigned in court.
“The National Police Service has noted with great concern an incident involving the shooting of an unarmed civilian by a police officer using an anti-riot shotgun within the Nairobi CBD. The said police officer has since been arrested,” Police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said in a statement.
Police equally observed that the protests had been infiltrated by unknown individuals who were armed with batons and assorted weapons.
“The Service takes great exception and does not condone such unlawful groupings. Such individuals will be handled firmly, according to the law. Consequently, investigations have commenced to identify and deal with the criminals accordingly,” Nyaga remarked.
