The King Fahd County Referral Hospital in Lamu has for two days been a theatre for bizarre drama involving a patient police say is a fugitive.
On Thursday last week, a 25-year-old man was rushed to the hospital with stab wounds in several parts of his body.
Mansuri Yusuf was said to have been waylaid by machete-wielding youths at Kinooni Area within Lamu Island.
Mansuri Yussuf's relatives at King Fahd Hospital on May 23, 2025.
Photo credit: Kalume Kazungu | Nation Media Group
According to his family, Mr Yusuf was on his way to a burial when the attack happened. He was stabbed on the head, hands and legs.
As a matter of protocol, the hospital administration advised the family to report the matter to the police before admission, but they were hesitant.
“We went ahead to admit the patient just out of our zeal to save life. But we were suspicious as to why the family was unwilling to file a report with the police,” said one of the hospital officials who requested anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the press.
Two days later, Mr Yusuf, now admitted at the hospital, has been identified by police as a wanted man who committed an offense two months ago and had successfully gone into hiding.
The police claim that, together with three others, he had assaulted a resident.
A section of the Lamu King Fahd County Referral Hospital in Lamu Island where Mansuri Yussuf is lying after he was attacked by machete-wielding gangs in this photo taken on May 23, 2025.
Photo credit: Kalume Kazungu | Nation Media Group
They allegedly committed the offense in late February this year with the incident reported at the Lamu Central Police Station and booked under OB NO 23/24/02/2025.
Police say the rest of his suspected gang members were arrested and charged at the Lamu Law Courts with the case ongoing and registered under Court File No E040/2025.
However, he remained at large as efforts by the police to locate him were almost fading.
Speaking to the Nation on Sunday, Lamu County Police Commander Mr Kipsang Changach, said they had positively identified Mr Yusuf as the suspect whom his officers had been tirelessly looking for almost two months.
Lamu County Police Commander Kispang Changach in his office on May 25,2025.
Photo credit: Kalume Kazungu | Nation Media Group
Mr Changach raised suspicion as to why the family had not filed any report or complaint with the police despite their kin having been attacked, injured and hospitalised.
“The friends he committed the crime with were already arrested and charged, but it has been a challenge for my officers to trace Mansuri’s whereabouts. We’re keen to have him handcuffed immediately when he's out of hospital to enable us to present him in court to answer the charges of assault and causing bodily harm,” he said.
He added that police are also keen to have him help them identify the other culprits who attacked him so that they can face charges as well.
The attackers were said to have gone into hiding shortly after stabbing him brutally, leaving him for dead.
However, Mr Yusuf's mother, Nusla Shekue, who was attending to her injured son, dismissed any reports that his child had earlier committed any crime.
Ms Shekue described her fourth-born child as a peace-loving and law-abiding citizen, terming Thursday's attack and injury incident as unexpected and unfortunate.
“I am not aware of any offense my son committed earlier as alleged. What I know is that my son was attacked in the Kinooni area as he was innocently headed to a burial ceremony. I am not even aware of the reasons behind my son’s attack and injury,” said Ms Shekue.
The incident comes at a time when the security department in Lamu and the Coast region has many times come out to raise alarm over increased machete-wielding youth terrorising locals.
During her recent visit to assess the security situation in Lamu County, Coast Regional Commissioner Ms Rhoda Onyancha said the security team was keen and following closely on Lamu’s situation as far as machete-wielding youth are concerned.
During the visit, Ms Onyancha met with the county security committee, particularly those in charge of Lamu East sub-County, where such incidents are rife.
