Health CS Confirms Discharge of Anti-Government Protest Victims Without Charges

Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Susan Nakhumicha announced that all victims of the recent anti-government protests who were admitted to referral hospitals have been discharged without being asked to pay their medical bills. Nakhumicha shared this update via her X account, revealing that 294 protest victims received treatment, with most being discharged at no cost.

"235 have been treated for various degrees of injuries and discharged, and none has been asked for payment. 58 are still admitted, with 1 in ICU, 3 waiting for theatre," Nakhumicha posted.

The CS also acknowledged the ongoing public fundraising efforts to support those injured during the protests. "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 added.

These efforts are being led by activist Hanifa Adan, who initiated a fundraiser through the M-Changa platform following the violent events of June 25. During these events, police reportedly fired live bullets into protesters near parliament. The fundraiser, dubbed "Care For The Injured," quickly raised over Ksh.20 million within 20 hours.

Hanifa has been providing regular updates on the distribution of the funds via her X account, ensuring transparency. "What you do is text me on WhatsApp with the invoices and the hospital bank account details. M-Changa only works with bank account details and also send the document stating the injuries," Hanifa explained in one of her updates.

She also emphasized the need for verification to prevent fraud, warning against attempts to exploit the initiative. "Money is sent directly to the hospital. If there is any con game involved with the hospital, I will drag that hospital down myself," Hanifa warned. "I’m even warning, if any hospital tries to take advantage of this and forge invoices and documents, I will get very personal with your hospital."

This announcement follows reports from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, which stated that 39 people have been killed in the anti-government demonstrations since June 18. Additionally, there have been 32 cases of "enforced or involuntary disappearances" and 627 arrests of protesters.

The swift and organized response to support protest victims underscores the community's resilience and commitment to justice amid ongoing unrest. As the nation navigates these challenging times, efforts to provide care and hold responsible parties accountable continue to be a priority.