Brian Mwangi: Seven Months of Pain as Nyeri Youth Shot During Gen Z Protests Remains Hospitalized
For seven months, Brian Mwangi Wangari has known only the cold walls of a hospital ward at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). A bullet lodged near his temple has left him paralysed from the waist down, unable to move or dream of the life he once envisioned.
Before the tragedy, Mwangi worked tirelessly as a tyre repairman in Karatina, Nyeri County. He planned to celebrate his 30th birthday by launching his own business. Instead, he spent it confined to a hospital bed, battling pain and uncertainty.
The Fateful Nane Nane Protests
August 8, 2024, was supposed to be just another day. Across the country, Kenyans took to the streets for the Nane Nane protests, demanding government accountability. Mwangi, however, was not part of the demonstrations.
“That day, there was a demonstration. They were saying it was Nane Nane. So, the activity began, and we went to where people were gathering and standing. Then, the demonstrators were chased away, and they ran towards where we were. At that point, everyone had to fend for themselves,” Mwangi painfully recalled.
In the chaos, security forces opened fire indiscriminately.
“They didn’t care whether you were part of the demonstration or not—they were just shooting indiscriminately. That’s when I felt a bullet hit my body,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion.
Since that moment, his world has never been the same.
A Family’s Struggle for Justice and Support
By his bedside every day is his aunt, Esther Wangui. She travels from Ruiru to KNH daily, ensuring Mwangi is not alone. An orphan, Mwangi depends entirely on Wangui’s care and support.
The biggest hurdle now is the hospital bill, which has ballooned to nearly KSh 1 million. Wangui, desperate for help, has pleaded for assistance to clear the bill and transfer Mwangi to a better facility.
“We are requesting assistance. We do not want anything else. We need help so that KNH can clear the bill. The last time they sent it to me, it was KSh 950-something thousand. I believe by now, it is approaching a million. But all we are asking for is to have it cleared so that he can be discharged from Kenyatta and at least receive treatment elsewhere,” Wangui appealed.
KNH has promised a response by Friday, March 21. However, with Mwangi’s condition deteriorating, every passing day feels like borrowed time.
The Government’s Stand on Gen Z Protests Victims
President William Ruto has acknowledged the suffering of those affected by the Gen Z protests. He expressed sympathy for the victims and their families, calling for peaceful dialogue to resolve grievances.
Ruto also pledged government support, including medical aid for the injured. Yet, for Mwangi and many others, hope is dwindling as they wait for concrete action
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Brian Mwangi: Seven Months of Pain as Nyeri Youth Shot During Gen Z Protests Remains Hospitalized
