‘It Was An Assassination Attempt!’ KMPDU Boss Davji Atellah Speaks On Police Assault
Dr. Davji Atellah, the Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), has recently regained consciousness and the ability to speak. This follows his injuries sustained during peaceful protests on Thursday.
Dr. Atellah was hit by a tear gas canister in an event that has led to significant criticism of the police’s use of excessive force.
Addressing reporters from his hospital bed at Nairobi Hospital, the head of KMPDU recounted the incident where he was fired upon at close range by an individual he has since identified as Evans Kangangi, the Officer in Charge (OCS) at Capital Hill Police Station.
“We were just moving down in a procession then the police came and parked in front of us and immediately, we were about 200 meters away, and the first shot he took hit my head,” recalled Dr. Atellah.
Having experienced utter chaos following the gunshot, the leader of the medical union now suspects he was the intended victim of an assassination.
“I was very scared…I thought that because the bleeding was profuse and I did not know the degree of the injury. The interns picked me up and took me to a Good Samaritan who drove me to the hospital,” he explained.
KMPDU Deputy Secretary General Dr. Dennis Miskellah reiterated Dr. Atellah’s remarks saying; “This point-blank headshot had no other intention than to kill Davji, especially after the same officer had earlier aimed at the SG and shot at him.”
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“The Secretary-General suffered a head injury and underwent surgery at the Nairobi Hospital and is currently in the High Dependency Unit (HDU.”
Dr. Atellah went on to reveal that; “When I came here (Nairobi Hospital), I was stitched like 12 times…there’s internal bleeding.”
The leader of KMPDU conveyed in a letter addressed to the Nairobi Regional Police Commander that there would be a peaceful demonstration in Nairobi on Thursday. This protest pertains to the delayed assignment of medical interns and the issue of postgraduate student fee payments.
The medical personnel walked from the Kenya Medical Association Center in Upper Hill to the Ministry of Health offices, and they were on their way to the National Treasury headquarters in the city center before the police intervened and dispersed them.
The medical association, despite denouncing the event, pledged to go on strike and organize a nationwide demonstration starting next Monday.
“Expiring tonight at midnight, if we do not have the demands responded to, every doctor will walk out of every hospital,” Dr. Miskellah said.
The consequences of the police actions on Thursday will have a notable effect on the general populace, especially if healthcare workers follow through on their promises to strike.
‘It Was An Assassination Attempt!’ KMPDU Boss Davji Atellah Speaks On Police Assault