A protester, Samuel Kinyanjui, has finally undergone surgery to remove a bullet that had been stuck in his thigh for over 14 months.
His long and painful wait was the result of a bureaucratic standoff between the hospital treating him and the police.
Kinyanjui was shot during the demonstrations against the Finance Bill in June 2024. Since then, the bullet remained lodged in his leg because the hospital insisted on receiving official police documentation before carrying out the operation.
Unfortunately, he was unable to get these documents despite making numerous attempts.
Speaking to NTV, Kinyanjui shared his frustration over the lengthy process. He explained that doctors had told him to obtain a P3 form from either Githurai or Kasarani Police Stations. However, when he went to Githurai, officers there directed him to Kasarani.
On arrival at Kasarani, he was told to go back to Githurai, leaving him trapped in a confusing and exhausting loop.
“The doctor asked me to get a P3 form from Githurai or Kasarani Police Stations, but the process failed. Officers at Githurai sent me to Kasarani, and when I arrived there, they redirected me back to Githurai,” Kinyanjui recounted.
He added that the constant back-and-forth left him heartbroken and exhausted. “I honestly don’t know where to begin. My condition makes it hard to move around. I have nothing against anyone; I just want to get better,” he said.
The hospital maintained that it could not perform the surgery without an official police record of the shooting incident.
Orthopaedic surgeon Edward Sang explained that such cases require strict legal procedures. “In situations involving gunshot wounds, we need documentation from the relevant authorities.
This ensures the case is officially noted, and once the bullet is removed, it can be handed over to the authorities for forensic or other investigations,” Sang stated.
However, the alleged reluctance of police officers to issue an Occurrence Book (OB) number or provide a P3 form kept Kinyanjui in constant pain and increased his risk of serious medical complications.
The matter was finally resolved when the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) stepped in to assist. Their intervention broke the deadlock, enabling Kinyanjui to get the long-awaited medical help.
On August 13, activist Hussein Khalid confirmed that the bullet had been successfully removed. “Finally, we have managed to get the bullet out.
After 14 months of pain, suffering, and carrying a bullet in his thigh, Samuel Kinyanjui has today undergone surgery to remove it,” Khalid announced.
Kinyanjui is now in recovery, bringing an end to a painful chapter marked by red tape, delays, and an uphill fight for basic medical care.
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