Mr Charles Mwangi from Laikipia County can only thank God after he miraculously survived a terror attack at a village in Mandera County which left 14 people dead.
While speaking to the Nation on Tuesday at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), the 35 year old quarry worker said he was suddenly woken up by a loud bang around 1 am when suspected Al-Shabaab terrorists attacked a residential building near Mandera town.
“They blew up our gate with an explosive and suddenly attacked us while inside our house which was near the gate,” he said at the KNH casualty department.
“We could not escape and I rushed to a corner and my colleagues lay on top of me and that was what saved my life,” said Mr Mwangi.
“As my colleagues lay on me, I left my hand exposed and that was when I was shot on the wrist and the bullet exited,” he said.
Mr Mwangi remained still and waited for about half an hour until police arrived and rescued him following the attack at Soko Mbuzi village.
“I had been called by a cousin to work there and he told me the place was okay but all of a sudden things have changed for worse,” he added.
Next to Mr Mwangi was Mr Stanley Njoroge, 30, who said in a brief interview that he hid on the roof as the rest of his colleagues were being shot dead.
Mr Njoroge who was among eight of the victims airlifted from Mandera and admitted at KNH. He had attempted to run away from the attackers but slipped and fell injuring his neck.
But Tabitha Wambui from Kandara in Murang’a is worried as she could not be able to trace her brother Mr Harrison Ndung’u Mwaganu who was also among the attacked quarry workers.
“I cannot get him on phone and I’am still trying to look for him. I have been informed he is not here (KNH) but I will keep on searching for him,” said Ms Wambui.
According to KNH CEO Ms Lily Koros Tare, seven of the patients sustained gunshot wounds on the head, limbs and lower abdomen while one patient sustained a neck injury from a high fall. Of the eight, two of them are critically injured.
“Following the attack that occurred in Mandera County this morning, Kenyatta National Hospital has so far received a total of eight male casualties aged between 24 and 45 years,” she said in a statement to newsrooms.
“The patients are currently undergoing assessment from our multi-disciplinary team of specialists to determine the extent of the injuries. Preliminary assessment indicates that most of the patients will undergo surgery,” said Ms Tare.
She added that the hospital had set up an information desk at the Accident and Emergency department for tracing and to provide regular updates to the relatives on on-ongoing care of the patients.
President Uhuru Kenyatta also visited the injured at KNH and wished them quick recovery and at the same time sent condolences to the families and relatives of those who died in the attack.
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