Nairobi, Kenya, January 24- Grace Njoki Mulei has been arrested following a disturbance at the Ministry of Health Boardroom at Capital Hill Police Station, an incident that has since sparked widespread public debate. Mulei, apprehended along Hombe Road off Juja Road, is in custody at Capital Hill Police Station, awaiting her court appearance scheduled for tomorrow.
The circumstances surrounding her arrest and the charges brought against her have drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups, including the Kenya Medical Association and the Law Society of Kenya. These organizations have condemned her detention, demanding her immediate release and the withdrawal of charges, which they deem unjust.
The incident occurred on January 15, 2025, during a Ministry of Health press briefing intended to update the public on healthcare issues. Mulei, along with other visibly agitated protestors, disrupted the briefing to express their frustrations over the inefficiencies of the Social Health Authority (SHA). Among the protestors was a mother who had undergone a Caesarean section and could not leave Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) due to delays caused by the malfunctioning SHA system.
Reports indicate that the protestors bypassed security measures to access the boardroom where the briefing was being held, demanding accountability from Ministry of Health officials. Following the protest, KNH confirmed that the SHA system had indeed malfunctioned, causing a 48-hour delay in processing patient cases.
Allegations of Mistreatment
Mulei’s son, George Mulei, has criticized the manner in which his mother was arrested, describing it as violent and traumatic. He claimed that his mother, who suffers from hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease, was coerced into writing statements under duress by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). He also noted that her health has deteriorated significantly since the arrest.
George called for her immediate release and urged authorities to clarify the specific charges she faces.
Legal and Civil Society Reactions
The family’s lawyer, Johnston Daniel Junior, has defended Mulei’s actions, arguing that her protest was a lawful exercise of her rights as a citizen to demand accountability on critical health issues. He emphasized that Mulei’s actions stemmed from the frustrations caused by systemic inefficiencies affecting countless Kenyans.
Civil society organizations echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the urgency of addressing the underlying problems within the healthcare system rather than criminalizing citizens seeking redress.
The arrest has ignited a broader conversation about the SHA’s operational failures and the government’s accountability in addressing systemic challenges in healthcare delivery.