The Ugly: Goons Storm Kitengela Hospital, Beat Up Staff, Destroy Theatre and Disrupt Ongoing C-section

KITENGELA, Kenya – In a shocking display of violence that has sent shockwaves through Kenya’s medical community, armed goons stormed Kitengela Hospital on Monday evening, July 7, 2025, disrupting a caesarean section procedure in progress and forcing medical staff to abandon their posts.

The attack, which occurred during the height of the Saba Saba demonstrations, saw the invaders not only interrupt the critical surgery but also vandalize the operating theatre before setting the hospital’s main gate ablaze. The mother undergoing the C-section and her unborn child were left in grave danger as medical personnel fled for their safety.

Eyewitness accounts describe scenes of chaos and terror as the attackers rampaged through the facility. Alarmed bystanders could be heard desperately asking the invaders, “Mnafanya nini?” (What are you people doing?), capturing the confusion and fear that gripped everyone present.

The Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society (KOGS) has condemned the attack in the strongest terms, with President Dr. Kireki Omanwa describing it as “unlawful and inhumane.”

“Of particular concern is the terrifying disruption of the hospital’s operating theatre while a mother was undergoing a caesarean section, a moment that should be safeguarded by the highest standard of medical protection and dignity,” Dr. Omanwa stated.

The medical society characterized the invasion as “both reckless and inhumane,” noting that it traumatized healthcare workers and endangered the lives of both mother and child. “This action constitutes a grave breach of medical ethics, patient rights, and human decency,” the statement read.

The attack comes amid broader violence during the Saba Saba protests, with reports indicating that 21-year-old Brian Kimutai, a local bodaboda rider, was shot and killed by police in Kitengela. Four other individuals with gunshot wounds were also admitted to the same Level 4 Hospital, along with several injured police officers.

KOGS has also criticized the overall police response to the demonstrations, arguing that roadblocks, curfews, and tear gas deployment have restricted access to healthcare facilities, potentially violating Article 43(1)(a) of Kenya’s Constitution, which guarantees the right to healthcare.

“Roadblocks, arbitrary curfews, tear gas, and violent crackdowns have restricted movement, making it nearly impossible for many women in labor and critically ill children to access timely healthcare,” Dr. Omanwa explained.

The incident highlights the vulnerability of healthcare facilities during civil unrest and raises serious questions about the protection of medical personnel and patients. Hospitals, traditionally considered neutral zones of healing and safety, should never become targets of violence regardless of the political climate.

As investigations continue, the medical community is calling for immediate measures to ensure the safety of healthcare workers and patients, emphasizing that medical facilities must remain sanctuaries of healing, protected from the chaos of political demonstrations.

The full extent of damage to the hospital’s operating theatre and the current condition of the mother and baby involved in the disrupted surgery remain unclear as authorities work to restore order in the area.