NAIROBI, Kenya — A horrifying scene unfolded Monday evening in Kitengela when armed goons stormed Kitengela Hospital amid the ongoing Saba Saba demonstrations, halting a C-section mid-procedure, vandalising the operating theatre, and even setting a fire at the hospital gate.
Videos seen by Y News captured the shock and confusion as bystanders cried out, “Mnafanya nini?” — What are you people doing? — while the intruders tore through the facility.
And the violence didn’t stop at the hospital doors. Tensions in Kitengela remained high into the night, following the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Brian Kimutai, a well-known boda boda rider in the area.
Kimutai was rushed to Kitengela Level 4 Hospital after reportedly being shot by police but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Four other victims, all suffering gunshot wounds, are currently admitted at the same hospital.
Several others, including injured police officers, were being treated for various injuries sustained during the protests.
While the Saba Saba demonstrations began as a call for justice and reform, what transpired in Kitengela has ignited fresh debate about the sanctity of healthcare facilities during civil unrest — and whether the state is doing enough to protect both patients and professionals when they’re most vulnerable.
The roadblocks set up by security forces also made it impossible for people with different medical cases, even urgent ones, to access medical centers.
In a viral video shared online, an ambulance had to turn back and was not able to pass a police roadblock.
Human rights groups have called out the government on the use of excessive force to crush protests by citizens whose rights are protected by the constitution.
As protests continue to ripple through parts of the country, what happened at Kitengela Hospital serves as a grim reminder of how fragile safety can be — even in the very places built to preserve life.
