Four-year-old boy’s leg amputated after Mombasa shooting

A four year old boy had his leg amputated following a gun attack Friday night in which Mombasa tycoon Shahid Butt was killed.

The boy is amongst the latest victims of the state of insecurity in Mombasa County after he was shot in his left leg when unknown gunmen attacked and killed Mr Butt in Changamwe.

The boy’s family through their lawyer Abdallah Ahmed is contemplating suing the State for the harm inflicted on him.

According to the boy’s family, police should be held responsible for injuries sustained by Ali Mohammed, after he was severely injured in his leg which had to be amputated at the Bomu Hospital.

His uncle Mr Fahad Ali who also sustained gunshots injuries in his right leg claimed police shot him and his nephew on suspicion that they were criminals.

HEARD GUNSHOTS

He said he was carrying one of his nephews on his lap in a Toyota Hilux pick-up truck KAV 289 car when he heard gunshots and then realised he had been shot.

“We live in Port Reitz area. We had gone to fetch fresh water at my brother’s house in Hamisi Estate. We were four occupants in the vehicle.

On reaching near the main road we heard heavy gunshots, so we reversed and tried going back to my brother’s house but upon reaching near the police station I heard more gunshots. My nephew and I had been shot,” he said.

The 31 year old casual worker said police then went searching for his brother’s house.

“When we reached my brother’s house everyone was running away from us, police had surrounded it telling us to surrender. It was like a movie scene. I saw blood oozing from the boy’s leg and my from trousers. We were ordered to lie down,” he said insisting he was just an innocent victim.

POLICE GUARDING HOSPITAL

At the hospital there was heavy presence of police with his ward being heavily guarded by six officers.

“I do not know if I am a suspect but I am being heavily guarded. My two brothers were arrested by police but the child was released on Saturday at 2am,”he added.

The boy’s grandmother Farida Hadi said she had sent her two sons with his twin grandchildren to fetch fresh water at their brother’s house in Hamisi Estate but when they reached the Chaani junction they heard gun shots and reversed back to their brother’s house.

“They were confused and sped away as gunshots kept going their direction. My grandchild was shot in the leg and severely injured. The leg was broken so it had to be amputated,” she said.

The grandmother also alleged that the boy has been crying saying police shot him.

But when contacted, Mombasa County Police Commander Robert Kitur said the victims were shot by the fleeing gunmen and not the police.

He said they had launched a manhunt for the more than five gunmen after being given descriptions by eyewitnesses.

“We are pursuing the attackers who were around five to six,” he said.

He appealed to the members of the public with information regarding them to volunteer it to the police.

He could however not explain why police officers were guarding the ward in which Mr Fahad Ali was.

LEFT IN A HURRY

The officers guarding the ward later left in a hurry when reporters enquired about their presence at the ward.

Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi who was at the hospital said Kenyans had lost faith in the government and the only way to salvage the situation was through a referendum.

The legislator asked the national government to give county governments the mandate to employ their own security officers to deal with the spate of crimes.

He condemned the police for “arresting” the little boy saying this was against the law.

No suspects have been arrested so far following the Friday night shooting.