Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has waived Sh 2.1 Million bills of 67 patients at the Coast General Hospital.
Mr Joho gave the order while speaking at the Tononoka grounds during Madaraka Day celebrations after which the patients were immediately discharged.
"As we celebrate this day I want to tell all those who have their patients at the Coast General Hospital to pick them up for free and we are going to do this every year," the Governor announced.
Some of the patients who had been restrained at the medical facility due to outstanding charges expressed delight in Joho's move.
"I was admitted since March this year and my family has been going up and down looking for the required amount but in vain. Today (Friday) morning when I got the news I was more than happy. I am now leaving for home as I have been told not to pay anything," one patient stated.
"I had a Sh44, 804 debt and I have been talking to my daughter about how to raise the amount. The good news came in today morning. I thank God for all this, and the governor for ordering for our release. I am more than happy and God will reward him," another added.
Mr Joho made the move after President Uhuru Kenyatta challenged him to show some of the initiatives he had launched to help Mombasa residents during the launch of the Standard Gauge (SGR) Railway.
The ODM deputy leader was later blocked from attending the launch of the maiden trip, an incident which was heavily criticised.
On Thursday, the Council of Governors (CoG) led by Turkana's Josphat Nanok warned that President Kenyatta's administration should respect county governments.
In a statement to newsrooms, the Council noted that this was the second time in less than six months that the Governor was being prevented from attending a public event in his own county.
"While we appreciate that Kenya is in an electioneering period, State Department of Interior and National Coordination must note that the Office of the Governor is a constitutional office that must be treated with the respect it deserves. The Governor’s Office must be afforded constitutional protections. Governor Joho holds Constitutional office until the next Governor of Mombasa County is sworn in," CoG's statement read in part.
The Council's whip, Kiambu Governor William Kabogo, also stated that whereas the National Government had the authority to exclude a governor from addressing an event, they did not have the powers to bar a leader from attending and interacting with his voters.
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