Hawker shot by police in Nairobi has 'rubber bullet' removed from skull

A multidisciplinary medical team at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has successfully removed an object—suspected to be a rubber bullet—that was lodged in the skull of a facemask vendor shot by police during a protest in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) on Tuesday.

Boniface Kariuki Mwangi, 22, was referred to KNH in critical condition following the close-range shooting, an incident that was captured live on camera.

KNH CEO Dr. William Sigilai confirmed that the object was extracted during a two-hour surgical operation led by Dr. Sam Njiru. The object has been submitted to experts for further analysis.

According to Dr. Sigilai, the projectile caused severe brain injury, and the patient was immediately placed on life support. He was later transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he remains on mechanical ventilation in critical condition.

The hospital also reported receiving 16 patients with injuries sustained during the protests, including gunshot wounds and blunt force trauma.

Nine of the patients were treated and discharged, while the others remain under medical supervision. One unidentified patient, believed to have sustained a skull fracture from an assault, is still being treated.