A senior police officer who lost his hands after a tear gas canister exploded during Tuesday’s protests in Nairobi has bravely spoken out about his ordeal acknowledging the impact of the incident on his life.
Chief Inspector David Karuri Maina said while life will not be the same again without both hands, he has accepted the reality and that he is ready to confront life’s challenges.
“This is the reality, it is a fact and so I will adjust accordingly. I know my life will not continue like before,” he narrated.
Maina who spoke at his hospital bed in Nairobi West Hospital where he is currently undergoing treatment emotionally recounted how he will explain to his children what happened to him
“I don’t know what I will tell my kids about this, I know they would be very much shocked,” he said.
"This one has changed my life a lot because there are some many things I was doing that I would not be able to do,” he added.
The officer, according to a police report, detonated the tear gas canister and delayed releasing it exploding on his hands “severely injuring both hands from the wrist down.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua who visited him Thursday at the hospital has already pledged Sh1 million and also promised further support during his recovery.
Nairobi regional commander Adamson Bungei was also among those who visited him where he offered his support during this difficult time.
Another police constable who sustained chest injuries is also undergoing treatment at the same facility.
Despite his tragedy, Maina, a father of three, also had a message to the protesters emphasizing the importance of adhering to police instructions during demonstrations.
“We have a right to demonstrate but when you are told not to move to a particular direction for some reason, let us follow it,” he said.
Maina is the commander of the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) in Embakasi.