Evanson Kamuri, the Kenyatta National Hospital Chief Executive Officer allayed reports that the hospital neglected the late journalist Ken Walibora.
On Monday, April 27, Kamuri appeared before the Senate Health Committee led by Senator Michael Mbito (Trans Nzoia County) arguing that Walibora’s family was aware of the developments at the hospital and asked the administrators not to engage the media with their report.
Kamuri was grilled via video conferencing, where he explained that the hospital staff tried their best to save Walibora after he was rushed to the facility in an ambulance on Friday, April 10.
“The patient was bleeding and had serious multiple injuries to the face and was attended to at 10.10 am. At KNH when a patient is brought at the emergency area, we don’t care whether you have money or NHIF card or your social status. The first thing we do is to attend and stabilise you before we ask for payment because you can only pay when healthy,” Kamuri argued.
He went on to disclose that Walibora’s Intra-cerebral had been damaged which affected his breathing ability, forcing the doctors to incubate him at 4 p.m.
Kamuri also argued that three doctors with different specialities attended to Walibora at the resuscitation room which was fully equipped similar to an ICU after Senators raised questions on why he was transferred to the emergency room.
Walibora’s family reportedly reached out to KNH and asked it to uphold Walibora’s privacy, hence the delay in the clarification of reports alleging he was neglected.
“We respected the family request on patient confidentiality,” Kamuri disclosed.
Apart from Senator Mbito, the Health Committee also comprises of Senators Abdullahi Ibrahim (Wajir), Beth Mugo (Nominated), John Kinyua (Laikipia), Falhada Iman (Nominated) Eric Mogeni (Nyamira), Petronilla Lokorio (Nominated), Naomi Masitsa (Nominated), and Fred Outa (Kisumu).
Walibora was laid to rest on Wednesday, April 22 at his home in Huruma Village, Cherangany Constituency in Trans-Nzoia County.
His widow, Ann Chebet and his two children Sheila Zawadi and Katila Samba did not attend as they were unable to travel from the US.
