A private clinician in Migori County on Thursday, July 20, put his life on the line protecting two children outside his residence as police engaged protestors in running battles to quell the anti-government protests staged by the Azimio coalition.
This act of bravery saved the two kids from harm, but came at a high price for the clinician.
Speaking to journalists at the Migori County Referral Hospital, the 35 year old clinician said he was going about his routine duties when the incident occurred.
“I was talking to a neighbour when I saw a police officer draw out his gun. At the time, I was holding my daughter's hand with my right hand and my neighbour's daughter with my left hand. I did not like the way events were unfolding, so I pulled the two children and shielded them beneath me," recounted the clinician.
The clinician revealed that a few moments later, he felt impact on his chest and saw blood oozing from the same spot few moments later.
Confirming the incident, Nick Ndoro, a nursing officer at the Migori Referral Hospital, noted that they had conducted an x-ray and ascertained that the bullet was still lodged inside the clinician's body.
“He is still in the ward undergoing further medical treatment.” Nick Ndoro uttered.
The incident took place during the second day of the ongoing nationwide demonstrations.
The Migori County Referral Hospital reported 12 injury cases on the second day of protests, five of which were gunshot wounds.
In the neighboring counties of Busia and Kisumu, demonstrations were less intense compared to Wednesday.
Although the protests were less charged on Thursday, traders across Nyanza expressed their displeasure with the effect the demonstrations were having on businesses lamenting they were incurring a lot of losses.
“We are not working as normal. It is calm but people are full of fear and are choosing to stay home instead. We are calling upon the president and the opposition leader to have a sit down and find a solution to all this," one of the traders noted.
The Acting Kisumu Commander, Hussein Alasow called upon all Kisumu residents to resume their work assuring them of adequate security.
“I also want to take this chance to request parents to let their children go back to school. We have enough officers to protect everyone.”
On Wednesday, the government made the decision to shut down schools in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu fearing that some rogue elements were planning to mete violence in learning institutions.
However, the government rescinded the decision on the second day, directing schools to be reopened.
