Samuel Kinyanjui: Man Expresses Joy After He’s Operated, Bullet Removed from His Body after 400 Days
- Samuel Kinyanjui, 30, had a bullet lodged in his thigh for 14 months after being shot by police during 2024 Gen Z protests in Nairobi
- His surgery at Ladnan Hospital was delayed for over a year as the police refused to issue a required abstract, forcing him to seek help from IPOA
- Kinyanjui accused Kenyatta National Hospital of misleading him about a prior operation, saying the bullet was removed intact this week
- IPOA collected the bullet as evidence, with activists calling for the prosecution of officers involved and better treatment for victims of police brutality
Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi: For 14 months, 30-year-old Samuel Kinyanjui has lived with excruciating pain and mental anguish, knowing a bullet remained lodged in his upper thigh.
Source: UGC
On Wednesday, August 13, afternoon, that chapter finally closed after it was successfully removed it, ending a 400-day ordeal that had robbed him of his livelihood.
When was Samuel Kinyanjui shot?
The bullet had been stuck in his body since June 16, 2024, when he was shot by police during the Gen Z-led demonstrations in Nairobi.
He explained that it entered through his right foot before settling in his gluteal region, leaving him in constant pain.
Kinyanjui's attempts to get it removed were repeatedly delayed because police at Kasarani Police Station refused to issue a mandatory police abstract.
He revealed that he only succeeded after securing a letter from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
At around 2pm on Wednesday, armed with the document, he arrived at Ladnan Hospital in Pangani, where orthopaedic and trauma surgeon Edward Sang performed the surgery.
"I am very happy because he's taken it out of my body. It was a simple surgery, less than 20 minutes and I was taken through by Dr Sang," Kinyanjui said.
Why did Kinyanjui wait so long to remove bullet?
His relief was mixed with frustration over his first treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), where he was told part of the bullet had been removed during a July 16, 2024, procedure.
"The bullet remained completely intact all this time and was removed whole, exactly as it had been, and you even saw it yourself," he said, accusing KNH of misleading him.
Kevin Njiiri, a close friend who has also suffered police-inflicted injuries, described the bullet as a representation of the grievances of the youth.
Dr Sang revealed the surgery had been scheduled for August 11 but was postponed due to the missing abstract.
He said Kinyanjui would be able to sit comfortably after two weeks, though he still requires regular monitoring and a future artificial hip replacement.
The young man observed that the incident was a reminder of the pain many still endure from police brutality.
"Today I am overjoyed to see that the bullet is off his body. This is a physical representation of the grievances of the youth," Njiiri stated.
Officers from IPOA collected the bullet as evidence in their ongoing investigation with Kinyanjui holding on to hope for justice.
Source: Youtube
Human rights groups said his case underscores systemic failures in how victims of police violence are treated.
"We want those individuals that are responsible for the shooting of comrade Samuel and others to be held responsible, to be arrested and to be prosecuted," said Odhiambo Ojiro, an activist with Vocal Africa.
Ojiro also criticised the government’s focus on cash compensation for victims, arguing that redress should match the needs and wishes of survivors.
The bullet’s removal is more than a medical milestone for Kinyanjui, it is potential legal proof in a case he has fought to advance for over a year.
Nairobi man with 8 bullets in his body
In a similar incident, Samuel Omondi Okoth, a 21-year-old protester, was hospitalised at Kenyatta National Hospital after being shot eight times in the back with rubber bullets during anti-government demonstrations on June 17.
Seven bullets were removed, but one remains lodged near his spinal cord, endangering his ability to walk.
Okoth believes the same police officer who shot mask vendor Boniface Kariuki in the head also shot him.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
