Friday, November 22, 2024

Kenyan father avoids jail over unpaid hospital bill

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Isaac Kaledzihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Kaledzi
Isaac Kaledzi is an experienced and award winning journalist from Ghana. He has worked for several media brands both in Ghana and on the International scene. Isaac Kaledzi is currently serving as an African Correspondent for DW.

A 22 year old father in Kenya has avoided a jail term for trying to smuggle his newborn daughter out of a hospital.

Boniface Murage was unable to settle the hospital bill for the delivering of his daughter so tried smuggling her out.

Murage was expected to settle a bill of $500 at the Kenyatta National Hospital but said he was unable to afford it.

While trying to smuggle his one-month-old baby out of the facility, security guards arrested him.

Murage was offered a pro-bono legal service by a Kenyan lawyer called Charles L. Madowo.

In court Murage pleaded guilty and could have been jailed but he rather received a suspended three-month sentence.

The Magistrate who gave the ruling, Muthoni Nzibe released Murage but that was on condition that he doesn’t commit any wrong within three months.

Murage can now go home with his daughter, with his story touching many Kenyans. Well-wishers reportedly paid Murage’s bill

Kenyans react

There have been reactions from Kenyans who appear to have sympathy for Murage. Some wondered why he had to be put on trial for such an incident.

Detaining patients over unpaid bills 

Last year a report by the AP revealed that a number of major hospitals across the world are reportedly detaining patients who are unable to settle their medical bills.

These hospitals many in Africa are reportedly operating a policy of “if you don’t pay up, you don’t go home”.

The Kenyatta National Hospital in Kenya was named as a notable facility where detaining patients unable to settle their medical bills is a norm.

AP reports that its investigations showed that several patients have been prevented from even leaving the facility to seek help in settling their bills.

 

 

Source: Africafeeds.com

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