Joseph Irungu alias Jowie, a chief suspect in the murder of Monica Kimani, was denied service at Kenyatta National Hospital over Kshs31 million debt owed by the prisons department.
Jowie, who is remanded at Industrial Area Remand Prison, was expected to be admitted to the referral hospital’s Ward 6A for an operation on Monday but he was turned away.
Lawyer Sam Nyaberi mentioned that Irungu was due for admission for a surgical operation on his arm but doctors only administered painkillers to help with the pain.
Irungu’s parents had offered to pay the bill and deposited some money, but the hospital turned down the payment, citing the inmate had been brought in by the State.
“Prisons owes KNH a lot of unpaid bills. Jowie’s parents paid some money for purposes of securing that operation. KNH said they don’t deal with individuals if they have been brought in by the prisons authorities … it’s a procedural standoff.
“He is not being treated. There are no check-ups. These guys just stamp his documentation and say they have seen him, and give him painkillers,” remarked Nyaberi.
The High Court has at least two times directed that Irungu be accorded treatment for his wounded arm.
Zeinab Hussein, the principal secretary in the State Department for Correctional Services, recently froze the payment of Sh6 billion pending bills which may have affected the payment of the hospital fees.
KNH Director of Clinical Services, Peter Masinde, indicated the Prison’s account had been frozen and warned that the hospital would only handle emergency cases from the correctional facility until the debt was paid.
“They have got a debt of Kshs31 million, so we are treating their patients who are emergency cases only. They have promised to clear it, but we don’t know when.”
