City Hawker Shot By Police At Close Range Undergoes Emergency Brain Surgery, Now In ICU

The man who was shot at close range by anti-riot police officers in the heart of Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) has undergone emergency brain surgery and is currently admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), according to Health Director-General Dr. Patrick Amoth. 

Speaking to the press on Tuesday evening outside KNH, Dr. Amoth confirmed that the patient, believed to be a hawker, was received at the emergency unit around 4:00 p.m. in critical condition. “He was first stabilized by our emergency team before being subjected to a series of medical tests,” said Amoth. 

A neurosurgical team quickly evaluated the patient and determined that he needed immediate surgery. “Evaluation by the neurosurgeons indicated that he required to undergo an emergency neurosurgical procedure, and as we speak, the patient is in theatre,” Dr. Amoth told reporters. He also revealed that ICU support had been arranged in advance due to the severity of the injuries. 

While Dr. Amoth declined to disclose the full extent of the injuries, stating he arrived after the patient was taken to surgery, he promised that more information on the victim’s condition would be shared following the procedure. 

The victim, whose identity remains officially undisclosed, was reportedly hawking face masks along Moi Avenue when he was cornered by two armed police officers during a protest. A short video clip circulating on social media captured the disturbing moment: the officers appear to rough up the man before one of them, already with his gun cocked, fired at him from close range. 

The man collapsed instantly, bleeding heavily, as onlookers rushed to carry him away in an attempt to save his life. The video has sparked outrage nationwide, prompting condemnation from Kenyans online, civil society organizations, and political leaders. 

In response to the public uproar, the National Police Service (NPS) announced that the officer involved in the shooting had been arrested. Police Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga confirmed that investigations are underway and that accountability measures will follow. 

The protests during which the shooting occurred were aimed at demanding the resignation and prosecution of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat over allegations of abuse of power and police brutality. 

As the nation waits for updates on the victim’s condition, calls for police reform and justice continue to grow louder, with many urging the government to urgently address what they see as an escalating pattern of violent law enforcement tactics.