Nairobi, Kenya – On January 23, 2025, Grace Njoki Mulei, a retired nurse, was arrested after confronting officials at the Ministry of Health over frustrations with the Social Health Authority (SHA). Mulei, 61, was at Ladnan Hospital in Eastleigh applying for knee surgery when she was taken into custody by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
According to her son, George Mulei, Grace was frantically shouting on the phone that DCI officers had come for her. When George arrived at the hospital, he was informed that his mother had already been taken away. The family was later told that Grace refused to write a statement and would be held at Capitol Hill Police Station until the following morning.
Grace Njoki Mulei is one of several patients who have expressed their dissatisfaction with the SHA system, which has been plagued with delays and technical issues. Patients from Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) recently stormed the Ministry of Health headquarters to voice their concerns over the inefficiencies of the SHA system.
The Ministry of Health has defended the SHA scheme, citing the successful collection of over Sh20 billion and disbursements of Sh2.6 billion to healthcare providers. However, patients like Grace Mulei continue to face significant challenges in accessing healthcare services.
The family is currently seeking legal assistance to secure Grace’s release and address the broader issues with the SHA system.
