Miracle Teen: 19-Year-Old Survives 9 Police Bullets in Kisumu Brutality
When Fidel Castro Ochieng, 19, was sent home from school earlier this week, his parents had promised that he would return to school on Friday.
After falling victim to police brutality during the ongoing anti-government protests in Kisumu, the Form Four student at Olembo Boys Secondary School will be unable to return to school for a while longer.
Ochieng, who is being treated at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Hospital (JOOTRH) for gunshot wounds, has nine bullets implanted in his body.
Ms. Teresa Okiri, the head nurse at the hospital, stated that the patient had eight bullets lodged in his thorax and one in his arm. “We are preparing him for surgery within the next few minutes,” said Ms. Okiri.
Ochieng recalled in an interview conducted from his hospital bed that he was playing cards with a group of companions in Nyamasaria when a group of police officers invaded their compound.
After a lengthy search, the next thing he heard was officers exclaiming that they had located them. “One of them began beating us with a large stick after shouting to the others that we were hiding after causing a disturbance,” Ochieng said.
Three young men attempted to flee, but a police officer drew his weapon and aimed it at them. As Ochieng fled, he was shot eight times.
He was fortunate to find someone willing to carry him on his motorcycle, but as they escaped, the police officer fired a final shot that struck his arm. The 19-year-old believes he is fortunate to be alive because the armed officer pursued them and fired upon them until they reached the hospital gates.
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“The pain is unbearable, I have not been able to sleep, and the bullets in my chest are uncomfortable,” Ochieng said as he was being wheeled into the operating room on Friday afternoon.
He added, “While being treated, one of my friends succumbed to the bullet wounds.” I praise God that I am still alive. The charge nurse confirmed that two patients with a similar number of gunshot wounds had undergone successful surgery and were rehabilitated in the High Dependency Unit by Friday evening.
According to Ms. Okiri, the bullets were lodged in the patients’ chests, backs, or arms. The eldest patient was 32 years old.
“Yesterday, we saw fourteen additional patients with firearm wounds. Ms. Okiri stated that 15 patients with bullets lodged in their bodies were effectively operated on. Mr. Joseph Odhiambo, 22, a boda boda driver, was among the scores of patients waiting in line for surgery on Friday at the hospital.
Thursday at 4:00 p.m., on his way home from work, he claims he was wounded by a police officer in civilian attire. Mr. Odhiambo stated in an interview that the police officer shot him in the right leg as he fled and that a companion rushed him to the hospital.
At the hospital, three additional patients, Collins Ochieng, 20, Tonny Owigo, 21, and Calary Ochieng,19, all have gunshots lodged in their backs, knees, and hips and are awaiting surgery.
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Mr. Owigo, a student in his second year at Great Lakes University in Kisumu, reported being wounded in the knee in the Nyalenda slums. According to him, a police officer discharged tear gas into the room in which they had sought refuge.
He was wounded in the knee as they fled for their lives. Ms. Okiri reported that two hospital patients passed away on Thursday, increasing the total number of deaths since July 7 to six.
“One was brought in in critical condition and died during treatment, while the other was confirmed dead upon arrival,” she explained. Elium Michael, a second-year student at Kisumu National Polytechnic, perished from a gunshot wound after being struck by a stray bullet.
The nurse in command of the facilities reported that the medical staff was overworked, with some employees required to work up to 36 hours straight.
Due to insecurity, a number of healthcare employees were unable to report to work, leaving the few remaining with a heavy workload. “The few staff members have been working around the clock to save the lives of the injured,” she explained.
Miracle Teen: 19-Year-Old Survives 9 Police Bullets in Kisumu Brutality
