Kenyatta National Hospital grappled with an overwhelming influx of casualties following Tuesday’s fierce anti-finance bill protests. The National Referral Hospital Hospital reported receiving 165 people linked to the protests.
On Wednesday, June 26, hospital officials confirmed it began receiving casualties from 11am on Tuesday. Of these, 72 have been treated and discharged, and 24 of the injured had undergone surgery and were on the road to recovery in various wards.
Meanwhile, eight more were still undergoing surgery, and 23 others awaited further medical procedures.
Most of the injuries were categorised as soft tissue injuries, while several victims suffered blunt force trauma.
Notably, 20 individuals were shot with rubber bullets, and six had sustained injuries from live ammunition. The hospital did not specify the number of injuries caused by teargas canisters, noting that such injuries are often indistinguishable from blunt force trauma.
Tragically, the hospital received two bodies of individuals who had died at the scene, and one more patient succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment.
"Unfortunately, we received two people who had died, and we lost one patient who was undergoing treatment," stated Dr Wabwire.
Dr Wabwire elaborated that the hospital continued to receive patients referred from various locations, with the majority of the casualties arriving from Nairobi’s Central Business District.
He also confirmed that 15 patients were received from Githurai 45, an area where reports indicated police had been firing live bullets at residents.
The protests, ignited by the passage of the contentious Finance Bill 2024, have been marked by a sharp escalation in violence.
Amnesty International reported that five individuals had been fatally shot while aiding the injured during the protests. The organisation also noted 31 other injuries: 13 from live bullets, four from rubber bullets, three from launcher canisters, and 11 sustaining minor injuries.
As the number of deaths attributed to the protests rose to 10, there was no indication that the unrest would abate. Protestors have signalled their intent to continue demonstrating on Thursday, following the National Assembly’s approval of the Finance Bill, which now awaits President William Ruto’s signature to become law.
The bill is set to take effect on July 1.
To support the injured persons use the following channels;
Blood Donation:
KNH has called for blood donations to support those receiving treatments at the hospital. To donate blood, Kenyans are being requested to make their way to KNH Afya Sacco gate.
-
Financial Support:
Activist Hanifa Safia Adan is leading Kenyans with mobilising resources.
Donations can be directed to PAYBILL: 891300, Account: INJURED.
- Report Injuries:
Independent Medical Legal Unit 0800721401
Kenya Medical Association 0722275695
Kenya National Commission on Human Rights 0800720627 -
Missing or arrested:
IMLU at 0800-721-401, Defenders Coalition 0716-200-100, WhatsApp Amnesty International Kenya 0759-463-346, Wangu Kanja Foundation 1519, International Justice Mission (IJM) 0717- 723-004, and FIDA Kenya 0800-720-501.
