Youths, led by Gatina ward MCA David Ayoi, stormed a hospital on Saturday, July 17, demanding the release of Michael Araka Ligare who was allegedly detained in the hospital since Wednesday, July 14, over a Ksh 68,000 bill balance which was incurred by his wife.
Police officers had to storm the Nursing Home in Kangemi in a bid to disperse the youths by using teargas.
The family had, in three installments, paid a total of Sh52,000 through M-Pesa.
According to Ligare, his wife Sharolin khadi had visited the hospital on Wednesday, July 14, at 8 pm for delivery and developed complications.
However, the baby died at the hospital and the mother was transferred to Kenyatta National Hospital.
"This hospital decided to detain me here and on top of the balance, I am paying Sh1,100 every day. I have even been given a uniform for sick people," Ligare told The Standard.
Ayoi said it was unfortunate that the hospital was detaining a healthy person, especially during this period of coronavirus.
According to hospital accountant, Joshua Mugeni, Ligare had voluntarily accepted to remain at the hospital as his family raises the balance to clear the balance.
Police took Ligare and the hospital representatives, led by an accountant Joshua Mugeni, to Kangemi police station for further questioning.
The High Court in 2018 ruled that it was illegal for a hospital to detain a patient over unpaid bills.
The court through, Judge Wilfrida Okwany, ruled that it was a violation of a patient’s rights for a hospital to decline to release them over accumulated medical bills.
She stated that a hospital has the right to demand payment of services but holding the patient is not one of the ways to recover the debt citing that it is an infringement to freedom of movement.
