7 December 2012 was a life-changing day for Kamukunji, Member of Parliament Yusuf Hassan, as he narrowly escaped death during a grenade attack in Eastleigh, Nairobi.
The MP was in a meeting with his constituents after evening prayers at the local mosque when a grenade was hurled at them, leaving eight dead and several injured.
Among the injured was Yusuf, who notes that the incident changed his life as he could not walk on his own for four years.
In a statement on 7 December 2024, 12 years after the incident, Yusuf narrated that he suffered severe injuries across his body that saw him seek treatment locally and abroad. Part of the treatment included undergoing 26 surgeries.
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"I endured months in hospitals in Kenya, South Africa, and the USA. Both my legs were severely damaged and required skin grafts to cover the blast wounds. I had lacerations, cuts, and burns all over my body, and many other injuries. I underwent around 26 operations. After four years in a wheelchair and on crutches, I learned to walk again," he narrated.
Going through such an ordeal is physically and mentally derailing. Still, Yusuf noted that the support of his family made it a little bit lighter, adding that his recovery was also fueled by the desire to get back on his feet and perform his duty as a representative for the people of Kamukunji.
"Throughout this ordeal, I kept hope and a strong spirit, never losing faith in the inherent goodness of humanity. With true grit and courage, and the unwavering support of my wife, family, friends, and the wonderful constituents of Kamukunji, I swiftly moved forward with my life. As an active representative, I have dedicated myself to serving the people who elected me to Parliament for four consecutive terms," he said.
Eastleigh is a commercial neighborhood in Nairobi City and hosts many ethnic Somali communities.
In the 2010s, the area and the country at large witnessed a string of terror attacks that saw the government increase patrols in Eastleigh and across the Northern and Coastal parts of Kenya.
Further, Kenya launched Operation Linda Nchi and entered Somalia on 14 October 2011.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the purpose of Operation Linda Nchi was to degrade the Al Qaeda–affiliated Al-Shabab Islamist group in Somalia, which was posing a security challenge in Kenya.
