Dreams shattered as rent riots in Nakuru leave youth without a leg

Residents of Kimathi and Flamingo in Nakuru Town will, with time, forget the chaos that rocked the estates earlier this month but for 15-year-old Wesley Adede, an amputated leg will forever be a grim reminder.

Wesley left his Lake View estate home for the library at 6am on September 2, but five hours later, he was writhing in agony after being shot in the leg. A fortnight later, the leg was amputated.

The Class Seven pupil at Kaloleni Primary School was caught in the mayhem as he cycled back home.

The tenants were resisting eviction after accumulating rent arrears of Sh175 million in five years.

Shattered dreams

In the ensuing clashes, Wesley’s left leg was hit by two bullets, forcing doctors at the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital to amputate it.

As he gives an account of the incident, one would expect a bitter young man full of regrets, anger and shattered dreams.

But far from it, Wesley has forgiven the person who pulled the trigger.

His determination and courage has confounded doctors and well-wishers visiting him at the hospital.

“Whoever shot me may have taken a piece of my flesh, but has not killed my spirit. I thank God I am alive as I heard that someone who was shot in the head died while being treated,” he says. “I am an orphan and I don’t need sympathy. What I need are crutches or an artificial leg to continue my education.”

Wesley recalls how he was riding home with his friend Peter when they came across a mob battling the police.

“I heard gunshots and the next thing, I found myself in hospital,” he recalls.

Wesley wistfully says his ambition to join the armed forces has been shattered.

“I love soccer and I will pass on tips to my school team from the technical bench,” says Wesley, who was the first choice striker for his team.

“I was a good striker and I can pass on those skills to my fellow players,” says Wesley, a fan of English Premier League champions Chelsea and Kenya’s Ulinzi Stars.

His teachers say he is a bright boy with a great future.

“Despite the tragedy, all is not lost and I wish to see him prosper in whatever God plans for him,” says teacher Mary Mburu.

“He has accepted his status and I look forward to seeing him back in class as he is an inspirational pupil,” says headteacher Hellen Akinyi.

Wesley says that up to now, he does not understand why he was shot or why the tenants were battling the police and council askaris.

“I’m only hearing these stories about tenants failing to pay their rents here in hospital,” he says.