Rights defender escapes death as gangsters run out of bullets

Human rights defender Justus Nyang'aya's who was shot several times after gangsters raided his home. He says he survived because the attackers ran out of bullets. PHOTO | FILE.

What you need to know:

  • At the scene Police recovered two bullet heads and a spent cartridge of 9mm calibre, commonly used in pistols.

A human rights defender who was shot several times after gangsters raided his home believes he survived because the attackers ran out of bullets.

Gangsters raided the home of the head of Amnesty International in Kenya Justus Nyang’aya in Ongata Rongai on Tuesday night, and after shooting him three times, fled after realising their gun did not have more bullets.

Speaking from his hospital bed in Nairobi’s Karen hospital Wednesday, Mr Nyang’aya said he struggled with the six gangsters in his living room in a bid to prevent them from reaching other rooms where his family was.

No bullet left

“He shot my arm as I tried to push back the door. I did not want them to enter because my children were inside. He shot my arm. Again he shot me here (he pointed to his chest).

“I kept on fighting and he shot me again, and there was so much blood. At last he pointed the gun straight at my face and squeezed the trigger, but there was no bullet left,” said Mr Nyang’aya.
At that moment, the gangsters hurriedly took his wallet and the electronic goods they found in the room and left.

Nairobi police commander Benson Kibui said: “We are yet to establish the motive of the shooting, but are investigating.”

At the scene Police recovered two bullet heads and a spent cartridge of 9mm calibre, commonly used in pistols.

Mr Nyang’aya does not think that he was particularly targeted and described himself as a victim of the escalating insecurity in the area.

“I want to believe this was a random incident. Things I say in public are the same things other people say. They are statements aimed at helping the government work well,” he said.

His wife and three daughters who were inside the house were not harmed in the attack. After the shooting, his wife drove him to hospital, but their vehicle broke down on the way.

A motorist who found them stranded drove him to the hospital. The doctors said he was out of danger because the bullets did not injure “vital internal organs”.