NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has clarified that a bullet recovered during the treatment of a teenage victim of a shooting incident in Pipeline, Nairobi, was preserved and handed over to investigating officers in accordance with established procedures.
The hospital said the projectile was retained as part of the patient’s medical and evidentiary records before being transferred to detectives for further handling and forensic examination.
“The Hospital wishes to clarify that the bullet/projectile recovered during medical management was retained and preserved as part of the relevant medical and evidentiary records,” KNH said in a statement issued on Sunday.
The clarification follows reports and concerns over the whereabouts of the bullet that lodged in the leg of 16-year-old Abdala Lihan during a shooting incident in Pipeline on August 3.
According to initial reports, a bullet allegedly passed through the body of Moreen Nduku, a mother of one, before striking Abdala and lodging in his leg.
Moreen was critically injured during the incident and died at KNH on Friday after four days of treatment.
Questions subsequently emerged over the handling of the bullet removed from Abdala’s leg, with reports suggesting that the projectile had disappeared after being recovered during treatment.
KNH, however, rejected any suggestion that the projectile had been lost or mishandled, saying it had been preserved and processed in line with medical and investigative requirements.
“In accordance with established procedures, such recovered items are handed over to investigating officers through the appropriate judicial and investigative process for further handling and forensic examination,” the hospital said.
The hospital did not identify the investigating officers or provide details on when the projectile was handed over, but said it remained ready to cooperate with authorities investigating the shooting.
“KNH remains committed to cooperating with the relevant authorities and providing any information or records required through the appropriate channels,” the statement added.
The clarification is expected to put to rest speculation surrounding the bullet at a time when questions have been raised over the circumstances of the shooting and the subsequent investigation.
Reports had also linked the incident to a police officer allegedly attached to Shauri Moyo Police Station, although the circumstances surrounding the officer’s alleged involvement had not been independently established.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) had also come under scrutiny over its response to the incident, with concerns raised by members of the public and human rights activists over the pace and transparency of investigations.
Human rights activists have accused authorities of failing to provide sufficient information about the shooting and have called for an independent investigation to establish what happened.
The death of Moreen has further intensified calls for accountability, with attention now focused on establishing who fired the shot, the circumstances that led to the shooting, and whether the bullet recovered from Abdala can provide forensic evidence to identify the weapon used.
Investigators are expected to rely on the projectile, medical records and other evidence from the scene as they establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The case remains under investigation.
