Governor Wamatangi Clears KSh 6M Bills, Offering Hope to Struggling Families
In a heartwarming turn of events, over 50 mothers who had been detained at Thika Level Five Hospital due to unpaid maternity bills were finally allowed to go home after the Kiambu County Government waived their pending fees amounting to KSh 6 million.
The debts were cleared by Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi, offering a lifeline to struggling families.
Challenges of Accessing Healthcare
Speaking to journalists, the mothers lamented the challenges they faced in settling their hospital bills. Many lacked health insurance and were left stranded following the discontinuation of the ‘Linda Mama’ program, which had previously covered maternity expenses.
Rachel Mbogo, one of the affected mothers, shared her frustration after being detained with a bill of KSh 196,000. Her newborn, who required prolonged treatment in the Newborn Unit due to complications, further strained her finances.
“With ‘Linda Mama,’ we would have managed, but now we are forced to bear the brunt of an inefficient healthcare system,” she said.
County Government Intervenes
According to Kiambu Health Services CECM, Dr. Elias Maina, waivers had already been approved for some of the mothers, with their cases undergoing verification. Among the patients were foreign nationals from Burundi and underage mothers.
Dr. Maina noted that Kiambu County had issued substantial waivers, including KSh 3 million in August 2024 and KSh 4.1 million in September 2024, to support vulnerable patients.
Support and Calls for Reform
Embakasi North MP James Gakuya extended additional monetary support of KSh 10,000 to the mothers who had endured the festive season in hospital.
The MP urged the government to expedite the implementation of the Social Health Authority (SHA) program to alleviate the struggles of Kenyans. He also challenged Health CS Dr. Debra Mulongo Barasa to visit hospitals for a first-hand assessment of the system’s shortcomings.
“The government must address these healthcare inefficiencies and make SHA operational to prevent further suffering,” emphasized Gakuya.
