A speeding police vehicle hit and killed Wajir County General Hospital's only surgeon on the night of Sunday, November 28.
The surgeon, Zennaye Mekonnen, was hit just few metres from the hospital as he was walking towards a restaurant for dinner.
The 50-year-old, who was an Ethiopian national, had been working in Wajir County since 2017.
"The health team have lost a great consultant. We are lost for words. It was his routine to take a stroll and later dinner in one of the restaurants," one of the residents stated.
Health workers from the County Referral Hospital downed their tools on Sunday and went to the streets on Monday to protest the death of the surgeon and seek justice.
The workers walked from the Referral Hospital to the accident scene and to the County Commissioner's office in protest.
"We want justice served. That those who were involved in his death be brought to book. We want the person arrested immediately," stated Thomas Nyagaka, a Welfare Officer at Wajir Hospital.
The doctors mourned him as a down-to-earth man, friendly and passionate about residents health care and a mentor to many health workers.
They vowed not to return to work until justice was served.
Police officers in the area stated that investigations were ongoing and perpetrators would be brought to book.
"We have already identified the police vehicle that was involved in the accident and as the police, we have also identified the driver of the motor vehicle. Appropriate action will be taken against the driver," said an officer.
His body has since been taken to the Kenyatta Teaching and Referral Hospital in Nairobi for transit to Ethiopia.
Zennaye is survived by a wife and two children.
