Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has come under fire following her comments regarding an online fundraiser aimed at assisting victims of police brutality during the anti-Finance Bill protests.
In a statement, CS Nakhumicha cast doubt on the necessity of the fundraiser, stating that none of the victims admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and other public facilities were charged for treatment.
“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 have been asked for payment. Fifty-eight are still admitted, with one in ICU and three waiting for theatre,” the CS said.
Despite these assurances, close to Sh30 million has been raised so far, significantly surpassing the initial target of Sh10 million.
Human rights activist Hanifa Adan, who has been managing the funds, responded by stating that KNH only waived charges for some patients after media exposés, and that many more patients had not received the required treatment. She accused the CS of politicizing the efforts to ensure that victims of police brutality receive adequate care.
“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,” Hanifa said.
“I said it here that KNH waived the bills. Nakhumicha just found her voice after all those days. Ask yourself why today? And after yesterday? They’re trying to make us all turn against each other,” she added.
Kenyans on social media have castigated the Health CS, accusing her of trying to discredit the initiative. According to Hanifa, payments to hospitals are made directly from the Mchanga platform to the health facilities.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reports that at least 39 people have been killed and 361 injured due to the “excessive and disproportionate” use of force by police against the largely peaceful protesters. The demonstrators, many of them young Kenyans known as “Generation Z”, have faced water cannons, tear gas, live ammunition, rubber bullets, and other violent tactics from the police. Several protesters have been killed, including some who were shot by police as they tried to storm the Parliament building.
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