Fact check: Receipts released after CS Nakhumicha announces waived hospital bills for protest victims

On Wednesday, Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha said all government referral hospitals have waived patient bills.

In a statement on her X platform, CS Nakhumicha acknowledged some individuals had been on a funds drive but the government had since waived the bills.

"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. 58 are still admitted with one in ICU, three waiting for theatre," she said.

However, a spot check by Eastleigh Voice revealed that only hospital bills for patients at Kenyatta National Hospital were waived.

Other hospitals like Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Homa Bay Teaching and Referral Hospital, and other county hospitals have not implemented such waivers.

Dr Vincent Oganga at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital contradicted CS's statement, stating that bills have not been waived and that it is journalist Hanifa Adan and her team through the M-Changa platform who are clearing the bills for the patients.

"The government hasn't waived any bills here. We have eight patients right now. Four have their bills prepared for discharge. Four are yet to be discharged. We have one in the ICU," said Dr Oganga.

Dr Angel Kourtney, another doctor at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, said most of the bills had been sorted through M-Changaand family contributions.

"The government has not waived bills for the injured protestors, particularly from this hospital," Dr. Kourtney stated.

The M-Changa platform has sent a total of Sh324,260 to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital to cover these costs.

At Homa Bay Teaching and Referral Hospital, the bills for patients injured during the protests have also been paid through M-Changa by Kenyans of goodwill. The total bills paid so far amount to Sh65,805.

"We admitted 11 patients with gunshot wounds following last Thursday's protests. Most of the patients were treated as inpatients, and some had surgery. So far, we have been able to discharge 5 patients, and all their bills have been paid in full by Hanifa and her team. We currently have 6 patients admitted and still receiving treatment," stated a hospital representative.

Payment receipt for Mt Kenya Hospital.

Michael Mbugua, who was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital after being injured during the protest, mentioned that his bills were waived only after Kenyans of Goodwill offered to pay.

"I only got to learn of the bills being waived after days of running around to clear my bills. I was being transferred to Nairobi West Hospital and had sent the invoice to Hanifa, who was clearing people's bills from the money Kenyans of goodwill fundraised," Mbugua said.

He had been admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital for a severe arm injury that resulted in him losing his fingers.

Mbugua added that the hospital later told patients that the bills had been waived but initially only for those who came in before June 20. Later, it was extended to everyone.

"There was too much attention on the matter of the patients injured from the protest, which made the hospital change their stance. I'm in another hospital now, and I left other people there whom I hope get the care they deserve," Mbugua explained.

Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Barnabas Odhiambo, the brother of Arnold Odhiambo, who sustained a leg injury and was admitted to KNH, shared a similar experience. His brother was discharged and transferred to another hospital after Hanifa cleared the bill of Sh7,747.

"My brother's admission to Kenyatta National Hospital was okay, and we were hopeful for quick treatment or surgery. However, the scheduling of surgery for him was not communicated, and a probable date was not set. We got worried because it seemed an early schedule could be weeks away, especially with the testimonials from his ward mates. He was in pain, and a constant supply of painkillers is what kept him going," Barnabas said.

"We appealed to Hanifa and her team to assist, and after visiting and seeing the actual pain my brother was experiencing, they agreed to help after the only remedy done apart from X-ray was skeletal traction," Barnabas added.

Other public hospitals, such as Mt. Kenya County Hospital, received Sh120,274 from the M-Changa platform to cover bills.