Embu Level 5 Hospital Emergency ambulance vandalised by youths during Saba Saba protests. Photo: Sikika Road Safety Facebook.
Embu County is among where chaos erupted on Monday as the Country marked 35th years since inception of the historic Saba Saba Day marked annually on July 7.
During the protests, Embu Level 5 Hospital emergency ambulance and the crew inside the vehicle was stoned and vandalised by irate protesters, causing a public outrage on social media from the medical fraternity and health stakeholders.
In a statement condemning the daring act, Sikika Road Safety described the attack as an insult to humanity, which could affect the persons involved when they need the services of the ambulance.
We condemn this act in the strongest terms possible, it’s a dark evening for emergency fraternity in the country, goons in Embu have attacked and stoned Embu level 5 hospital ambulances, attacking an emergency vehicle and its crew is beyond protest, it’s an attack on life itself,” Sikika stated.
They faulted the protesters for attacking the crew that was on the streets ferrying injured victims to the hospital for further medical attention by medical officers at the facility, citing that even in wore tone countries, emergency ambulances are never attacked. Sikika has termed the attack as a wrong move.
“Emergency teams have been outside here helping victims, treating them and taking them to hospitals. If the attack of emergency vehicles will continue, emergency teams might tend to pull back during that time when you need emergency response the most. Even in countries with war, emergency response ambulances are never attacked,” further read the statement.
From photos shared by Sikika Road Safety, the ambulance fuel tank is wrecked, with further damaged body. Additionally, the windscreen was broken as well as the front of the vehicle.
Similar attack was witnessed at the Kitengela Sub-County Hospital was invaded after a 21-year-old man was killed by police with two bullets, despite surrendering to police officers. The angry youths who invaded the hospital harassed medical officers, patients and vandalised critical machines.
According to reports from the hospital, oxygen machine was vandalised by the youths, a very vital machine for many patients around the county. Following the two unfortunate incidents, medical union has called on the National Police Service (NPS) to do speedy investigation and bring the perpetrators to accountability.
