Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha now says people injured during demonstrations have not been asked to pay for treatment.
In a statement on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, Nakhumicha says that out of the total 294 casualties attended to in government Referral Hospitals, 235 have been treated for various degrees of injuries and discharged and none has been asked for payment.
She says that 58 are still admitted with one in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and three waiting for theatre.
“My attention has been drawn to efforts by some individuals to raise funds from the public to pay hospital bills for persons injured during the demonstrations. Out of the total 294 casualties attended to in our Referral Hospitals, 235 have been treated for various degrees of injuries and discharged and none has been asked for payment,” Nakhumicha said.
“58 are still admitted with 1 in ICU, 3 waiting for theatre. We wish them quick recovery.”
This comes at a time when millions have been raised online to assist those injured during protests, with Ksh29.7 million raised as of Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), 39 people have lost their lives in the demonstrations and 361 others were injured from the protests which commenced on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, to Monday, July 1, 2024.
From their data, Nairobi recorded the highest number of deaths standing at 17 as of Monday, July 1, 2024.
“The dead are from Nairobi (17), Nakuru (3), Laikipia (1), Narok (1), Kajiado (3), Uasin Gishu (4), Kakamega (1), Kisumu (2), Kisii (1), Mombasa (3), Siaya (1), Kiambu (1) and Nandi (1),” the KNCHR report read in part.
This comes amidst increased violence and destruction of property witnessed during protests on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, with several people reported injured.
Among those injured include K24 TV journalist Joel Chacha who was injured while covering the anti-government protests in Nairobi.
Chacha who was covering the protests within the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, was hit by a tear gas canister that was lobbed by the police along Tom Mboya Street.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki called for an end to the anti-government demonstrations that have been going on across the country.
Kindiki in a statement issued on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, termed the protests as anarchy, violence and plunder, which must cease at whatever cost.
He further stated that the planners of the Tuesday protests are planning to repeat the same on Thursday and Sunday this week.
“The organisers of today’s orgy of violence in parts of Nairobi, Mombasa and several other parts of the Country are reportedly planning to repeat their anarchic chaos and cruel plunder again on Thursday and Sunday this week, and perhaps much more frequently in the future,” Kindiki said.