Kiambu Man Shot 13 Times Defies the Odds, Rebuilds Life After Deadly Attack

Charles Kamau, a resident of Gatong’ora, Ruiru in Kiambu County, is a testament to resilience after surviving a near-fatal attack in November 2015. 

The incident, which saw him shot thirteen times, has led to years of medical complications and financial strain, yet Kamau remains resolute. The attack occurred as Kamau arrived home with his wife, Margaret Wambui, and daughter, Lynn Wanjiku. As they were closing the gate, three assailants forced their way onto the property. According to Kamau, the intruders subdued his wife and daughter. 

Reacting instinctively to protect his family, Kamau confronted one of the assailants, unaware they were armed. The confrontation escalated rapidly. The assailant Kamau grabbed produced a firearm and discharged thirteen bullets, most of which struck Kamau in the abdomen, causing extensive damage to his internal organs. He was also shot in the shoulder and thigh. His daughter, Lynn, sustained a gunshot wound to her thigh before the attackers fled.

Immediately following the attack, Kamau’s wife and a neighbour rushed him to a local hospital in Ruiru. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was quickly transferred to MP Shah Hospital in Nairobi, where he underwent an eight-hour emergency surgery. Doctors successfully removed twelve bullets from his body. Following the surgery, Kamau spent a night in the intensive care unit before being moved to the high dependency unit for two weeks. He was later transferred to a general ward, where his recovery began. 

However, unbeknownst to the medical team, one bullet remained lodged in his thigh. It wasn’t discovered until three years later when persistent swelling prompted further medical investigation and its eventual removal. The gunshot wounds led to a cascade of health complications. Kamau suffered kidney failure, necessitating further hospitalisation, additional surgeries, and dialysis treatments. His legs became severely swollen, rendering him immobile. 

Doctors later diagnosed a blocked vein as the cause of poor circulation to his lower body, requiring a fourth major surgery to restore blood flow. After spending over six weeks in the hospital, Kamau was discharged. However, his recovery was far from complete. He required ongoing medication, daily injections, and regular medical check-ups. The extensive medical treatment placed a significant financial burden on Kamau’s family. With Kamau bedridden for three years, his wife, Margaret, became the sole breadwinner. 

The family was compelled to use their land title deed as collateral to cover the rising medical expenses. They also borrowed KSh500,000 from their church’s savings cooperative, which took four years to repay. In total, Kamau’s medical expenses exceeded KSh8 million. 

Determined to alleviate his family’s financial strain, Kamau returned to work as a long-distance truck driver as soon as his health allowed. He aimed to pay off debts and restore a sense of normalcy to their lives. Despite the trauma, Kamau harbours no resentment towards his attackers, who were never apprehended. He views his survival as part of a larger divine purpose. 

"Some people had written me off," Kamau states. "But I believe God spared me for a reason. A single bullet could have taken my life, but He had other plans. I am a living testimony."

"My dreams may have been shattered," he concedes, "but I believe God has better plans. That’s why He saved me—and my daughter."