Health Ministry bows to pressure, withdraws case against woman who protested over SHA inefficiencies
The decision follows uproar from Members of Parliament, who had called for the charges to be dropped.
Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai has agreed to withdraw a case against Grace Njoki, who stormed a meeting chaired by Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa at Afya House.
The decision follows uproar from Members of Parliament, who had called for the charges to be dropped.
Kimtai faced intense questioning over the arrest of Njoki, a woman who gained widespread attention after disrupting Ministry of Health offices over delays by the Social Health Authority (SHA).
During a retreat in Naivasha on Thursday, lawmakers led by Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo, demanded an explanation for the arrest, as Njoki had been expressing the frustrations of many Kenyans.
The 61-year-old had been arrested for causing a disturbance at Afya House, according to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). She was later released on a Sh10,000 cash bail.
The arrest happened at Ladnan Hospital in Eastleigh, where she had gone to seek medical treatment. She was forcibly removed from the hospital on claims of causing a disturbance on January 15, after she and another patient protested against delayed access to healthcare.
The delays had been caused by a system failure within the Social Health Authority (SHA), for which the Ministry later took responsibility and issued an apology.
“Why was the elderly lady arrested for expressing her frustration? She should not be arrested,” Odhiambo said.
In response, Kimtai acknowledged that the Ministry had filed the complaint, but assured MPs that the case would be reviewed.
A screengrab of Grace Mulei Njoki, who made headlines for protesting at Afya House last week over grievances related to the Social Health Authority (SHA).
“Honourable members, we have heard you and since the Ministry is the complainant, we are going to review the case,” Kimtai said.
MPs' dissatisfaction
Despite the response, a number of MPs voiced their dissatisfaction, increasing the pressure on the PS, who eventually announced that the case would be withdrawn.
“We are going to withdraw the case,” Kimtai said.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah pressed Ministry of Health officials to clarify who had lodged the complaint against Njoki and what offence she was accused of committing.
“Kenyans want to know who was the complainant in the case against the lady. Was it the ministry that was the aggrieved party, or was it SHA?” he asked, criticising how the matter was handled and suggesting it had been blown out of proportion.
In response, Principal Secretary Kimtai confirmed, “The Ministry of Health was the complainant in the case,” a revelation that sparked sharp reactions from lawmakers.
Speaker Wetang’ula then intervened, pointing out, “The Ministry of Health being a public place, you cannot talk of trespass,” and noted that no one had been harmed during the incident.
“I will give you free advice now that you have admitted that the Ministry of Health is the complainant in the case against Njoki. Please consider reviewing it and withdrawing the complaint,” he added.
“In the interest of the image of the Ministry of Health and the public, the Ministry will withdraw the complaint,” Kimtai assured the lawmakers.
Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris lauded Grace Njoki for her bravery and urged the Ministry of Health to engage with her constructively.
Passaris emphasised the importance of addressing the issues raised by Njoki, particularly those related to SHA, to improve its performance.
“Grace Njoki should be commended for her courage. The Ministry of Health should engage with her constructively to identify issues and implement solutions that will enhance the performance of SHA,” Passaris said.
Passaris also expressed concern over the actions of DCI, criticising their decision to harass Njoki instead of focusing on more pressing matters such as the unresolved cases of femicide in the country.
“It is deeply concerning that DCI has chosen to harass her instead of addressing the numerous unresolved cases of femicide in the country,” Passaris said.
The Woman Representative further described Njoki as a heroine, stressing that her voice should be amplified, not silenced.
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