The Ministry of Health (MoH) has officially decided to drop the case against Grace Njoki, a nurse who gained attention for disrupting a press briefing by Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Barasa at Afya House. The move follows a series of discussions during a mid-term retreat for Members of Parliament (MPs) held in Naivasha, where the Ministry’s handling of the incident came under intense scrutiny.
Njoki’s protest on January 15, 2025, was a bold move to highlight the inefficiencies of the Social Health Authority (SHA) and its failure to meet the healthcare needs of ordinary Kenyans. Her actions, which involved interrupting Barasa’s briefing, led to her arrest on January 23. She was detained for several hours before being granted Ksh. 10,000 bail. However, Njoki’s motives were clear: she was advocating for patients’ rights, asserting that the SHA’s inefficiencies were putting the health of many Kenyans at risk.
The case garnered significant attention, especially after Speaker Moses Wetangula raised it during parliamentary proceedings. Wetangula and other MPs questioned why the MoH had filed charges against Njoki, especially given that the incident occurred in a public space where no one was injured. Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah called for clarity on the matter, asking whether it was the MoH or the SHA that had lodged the complaint against Njoki.
In response, Health Services Principal Secretary (PS) Harry Kimtai confirmed that the MoH had initially pressed charges. This led to a strong reaction from MPs, with Wetangula advising Kimtai to reconsider the decision, arguing that the case was being blown out of proportion.
Under pressure from the legislators, Kimtai assured the MPs that the Ministry would indeed withdraw the complaint, stating that it was in the best interest of the Ministry’s public image. In a similar vein, Minority Whip Millie Odhiambo confirmed on social media that Kimtai had agreed to drop the charges against Njoki. Odhiambo also announced that Kimtai had committed to setting up a dedicated unit to support individuals frustrated by the SHA’s inefficiencies.
Njoki, in an emotional interview following her release, explained her actions, emphasizing that she was fighting for the rights of patients who often have no voice in the face of systemic challenges in the healthcare sector. She expressed frustration with the continued mismanagement of funds, which she claimed were intended for treatment but were instead being misappropriated.
The withdrawal of the charges against Njoki marks a significant turn in the ongoing debate about healthcare reforms in Kenya. It also highlights the pressure from MPs and the public on the Ministry to address the inefficiencies within the SHA, ensuring that the voices of patients and healthcare workers are heard.
