Activist and journalist Hanifa Adan has addressed Health CS Susan Nakhumicha’s concerns regarding the funds raised for medical bills of Finance Bill protest victims.
On Wednesday morning, CS Nakhumicha stated that all casualties from the protests had been treated for free and subsequently discharged.
She reported that out of 294 casualties, 235 had been treated and released. While 58 remained admitted. Of these, one is in the ICU and three are awaiting surgery.
“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,” Nakhumicha said.
“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. Fifty-eight are still admitted, with one in ICU, and three waiting for theatre. We wish them a quick recovery.”
Hanifa Adan Responds
In her response, Hanifa Adan highlighted that Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) only waived bills after a local TV station aired the story of one injured protester.
She also urged CS Nakhumicha to refrain from politicizing the issue.
“There are so many people in KNH complaining up to now that they have not received surgery yet and are in pain. We transferred five people from KNH to Nairobi West, and they are doing well,” Hanifa explained.
Hanifa also noted that their fundraising efforts have been used to pay hospital bills for victims in various parts of the country.
“We have been paying for Moi Referral Hospital, Embu Level 5, and other public hospitals. Even people in Mbagathi, we visited them and are waiting for the invoices. I am repeating, do not play politics with people’s lives,” she said.
Hanifa added that, unlike the government, they have receipts for all payments made.
She also questioned why CS Nakhumicha was only now addressing the issue, given that the protests have been ongoing for over two weeks.
Hanifa suggested that the government’s delay was an attempt to create division among the youth.
As of Wednesday morning, the fundraising efforts through the M-Changa platform had raised over Sh29.7 million.
By Vivian K.