A protester, Samuel Kinyanjui, has finally had a bullet removed from his thigh after a 14-month ordeal involving a bureaucratic standoff between a hospital and the police.
The bullet had been lodged in his body since the demonstration against the Finance Bill in June 2024, but it took a long time to removed due to the hospital's demand for police documentation that Kinyanjui was unable to obtain.
In an interview with NTV, Kinyanjui recounted the frustrating experience of trying to obtain a P3 form from local police stations.
He alleged that officers at Githurai Police Station had sent him to Kasarani, only for him to be redirected back upon his arrival, leaving him trapped in a loop.
"The doctor asked me to get a P3 form from Githurai or Kasarani Police Stations, but that failed because the officers at Githurai sent me to Kasarani, and when I got there, they redirected me back to Githurai," he said.
"I am just heartbroken because I do not know where to start, as my condition does not allow me to move around. I have nothing against anyone; I just want to be okay,” he added.
The hospital had reportedly demanded that the matter be registered with the police before they would perform the surgery.
Edward Sang, an orthopaedic surgeon, explained that this is standard procedure in cases involving shootings, as hospitals require documentation from the relevant authorities to confirm that they are aware of the case before a patient can be treated.
“We also need the relevant authorities to take the bullet once removed, either for forensics or for whatever other reasons they may require,” Sang said.
This demand, combined with the alleged reluctance by police to issue an Occurrence Book (OB) number or a P3 form, left Kinyanjui in constant pain and at risk of further medical complications.
The situation was resolved after the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) intervened.
Activist Hussein Khalid revealed that a bullet was removed from Kinyanjui’s thigh on August 13, and he is now recovering.
“Finally, we’ve got the bullet out. After 14 months of pain and suffering with a bullet lodged in his thigh, Samuel Kinyanjui today went through surgery to remove the bullet,” Khalid said.
