Boniface Nyangau, the father of 10-month-old baby Chloe, has alleged that the baby is stranded in India after the Social Health Authority (SHA) allegedly retracted its previous commitment to pay Ksh500,000 towards her life-saving heart surgery.
A letter from the Ministry of Health, signed by Dr Emmanuel Tanui on behalf of the Director General for Health, in possession of NTV and seen by Kenyans.co.ke, stated that the ministry had no objection to Chloe receiving treatment abroad; however, Health CS Aden Duale dismissed it.
Speaking to NTV, via phone interview, Duale labelled the letter fake, explaining why SHA had allegedly walked back from fulfilling its previous promise of paying Ksh500,000 towards the surgery.
''Under SHA, first, there are procedures in law, and you must confirm that what you are seeking is not provided for and cannot be found in Kenya,'' the CS explained.
The story of Chloe began in September 2024 when she was born; however, joy quickly turned into uncertainty when doctors diagnosed her with a congenital heart defect, a complete AV canal defect, requiring urgent surgery that could not be performed locally.
That's when her parents started looking for a way to help her. Through a local doctor's connection, she was able to secure it at Miot Hospital in India. The total cost of surgery and travel was estimated at Ksh1.8 million.
Boniface, Chloe's father and a faithful contributor to the now-defunct NHIF and current SHA system, approached SHA for support, which in response committed to covering Ksh500,000, leaving the family to raise the remaining amount.
Through fundraising, the parents gathered Ksh1.125 million from friends, family, and well-wishers. With the surgery scheduled, they paid the hospital and travelled to India, confident that SHA would remit the promised amount.
But once in India, the family was met with shock as SHA allegedly refused to honour its guarantee of payment. According to Boniface, he had submitted all required documents, including the letter from the Ministry of Health approving foreign treatment.
In a dramatic turn of events, the CS dismissed the letter, termed it as fake, and threatened to take action.
''The letter is fake, and I am not lying to you; in fact, we are doing investigations,'' the CS said.
Meanwhile, Chloe's father has pleaded with the Ministry to honour their promise so that his daughter, who is currently still in India with her mother, can return to Kenya.
