Kenyans react after CS Nakhumicha says government settling hospital bills for protest victims

The netizens, led by social activist Hanifa Adan are up in arms after Nakhumicha claimed that protesters were being treated for free in government hospitals despite efforts to fundraise.

Taking to her X account, Hanifa shot down claims made by the Health Cabinet Secretary who claimed that all the protest victims at various referral hospitals had had their bills sorted by the government and that the Hanifa-led M-CHANGA fund had not played a part in the entire process.

On July 3, the CS said that out of the 294 victims who had been admitted to various referral hospitals, 235 had already been treated for various degrees of injuries and discharged and none had been asked for payment.

"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," she wrote. 

"Out of the total 294 casualties attended to in our Referral Hospitals, 235 have been treated for various degrees of injuries and discharged and non has been asked for payment. 58 are still admitted with 1 in ICU, 3 waiting for theatre."

Quickly countering the CS, Hanifa said that Kenyatta National Hospital was uncooperative, adding that she had to transfer several cases from KNH to Nairobi West Hospital.

"Wewe mama, KNH waived the bills after you guys were aired here and I mentioned that. There are so many people in KNH complaining up to now that they haven’t received surgery yet and are in pain. We transferred 5 people from KNH to Nairobi West and they’re doing well," she wrote.

"KNH refused for people to be transferred after that and started politics. I requested you don’t charge them but you still follow people with bills at home! Usilete politics hapa wewe. Have some shame.  You do not care."

Further explaining her tribulations at the Kenyatta Hospital, Hanifa said that the hospital authorities were also refusing to transfer people, further complicating her efforts.

"Btw when I first visited KNH they sent out memos after that for people not to come visit without special orders," she said. 

"Mind you they’re refusing to transfer people and I’m having a hard time helping them Kabisa!"

Hanifa, who helped raise Ksh.30 million from Kenyans, in a fund dubbed 'Care for the Injured', went on to share receipts and evidence of her efforts, asking the CS to quit "playing politics" with the life of Kenyans.

She added: "Another fact check. We’ve been paying for Moi referral hospital, We’re paying for Embu Level 5 and other public hospitals as well. Even people in Mbagathi we visited them and we are waiting for the invoices. I’m repeating, do not play politics with people’s lives!"

Expressing her exasperation, Hanifa once again updated her followers, further explaining her frustrations with the Kenyatta Hospital but clarifying that she had been paying bills across various other hospitals.

"I already said the bill for KNH was waived after I aired them here. KNH refused for people to be transferred and they’re not letting us help either," she wrote.