By Grace Gilo
Members of the National Assembly have urged the Ministry of Health to withdraw charges against a patient who was arrested for storming Afya House over grievances related to the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Grace Njoki Mulei, 61, made headlines last week after her dramatic arrest at Ladlan Hospital in Eastleigh, where she had gone to seek treatment.
She was charged with causing a disturbance at the Ministry of Health’s offices and was later released on a Sh10,000 cash bail.
During the ongoing National Assembly Mid-term retreat on Thursday, National Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon (Dr.) Moses Wetang’ula led MPs in expressing their disapproval of the way Ms. Mulei was handled.
This was during a session when Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai, along with SHA CEO Richard Ingasira and the Chairperson Abdi Mohamed, were making presentations before MPs on the new health insurance system.
National Assembly Majority Leader Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah (Kikuyu) set the tone by asking Ministry of Health officials to clarify who had filed the complaint against Ms. Mulei and what the alleged crime was.
“Kenyans want to know who the complainant in the case against the lady was. Was it the ministry that was the aggrieved party, or was it SHA?” he asked, criticizing the way the situation was handled and likening it to making a mountain out of a molehill.
In response, PS Kimtai confirmed that the Ministry of Health was the complainant in the case, which sparked sharp reactions from several lawmakers.
The reaction prompted Speaker Wetang’ula to intervene, noting that no one was injured in the fracas.
“The Ministry of Health being a public place, you cannot talk of trespass, ” said Speaker Wetang’ula.
“I will give you free advice now that you have admitted that the Ministry of Health is the complainant in the case against Ms. Mulei. Please consider reviewing it and withdrawing the complaint,” he said.
“In the interest of the image of the Ministry of Health and the public, the Ministry will withdraw the complaint,” PS Kimtai assured the lawmakers.
Ms. Mulei’s arrest, which followed her participation in a protest with other patients from Kenyatta National Hospital who entered the Ministry’s boardroom during a press conference by Health CS Deborah Mulongo, sparked widespread condemnation.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) also condemned the incident. “We will continue raising our voices until the government addresses these issues. President William Ruto must reexamine the challenges facing SHA,” a representative from the LSK stated.