Nyong'o waives medical fees for victims of police brutality

By Peter Ochieng

Victims of police brutality admitted in various public hospitals in Kisumu County do not have to worry about their bills.

Kisumu governor Anyang' Nyong'o announced on Wednesday, during a vigil for the victims at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Refferal Hospital (JOOTRH) that they will be treated for free.

He said the waiver is on, until 30th July, 2023, when the situation on the ground will be reviewed.

"Today, as part of the countrywide vigil for the victims of the police brutality, I have instructed the department of medical Services to waive all the medical fees for all the victims in all County hospitals, including 40 patients at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital."

"This waiver applies to medical services offered at all public hospitals in the County and runs until 30th July 2023, when we will review the situation and provide further guidance," added the second term County boss.

Last week during Azimio La Umoja One Kenya, police reportedly clobbered residents of Bandani, Obunga, Manyatta and Nyalenda in a bid to stop them from joining the protests' bandwagon.

Nyong'o says police unleashed 'terror on his innocent' constituents.

"Innocent residents were either killed or maimed in one of the worst police brutalities ever witnessed in this County. The police raided houses in residential areas, flushed out the people including the sick, the old, women and children and attacked them mercilessly."

According to the County Chief, about 107 people had been attended to in various hospitals as of Saturday last week, 47 of them with gunshot wounds.

He called for those in authority to respect rights of Kenyans to demonstrate peacefully.

"As we keep vigil today in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who were either killed or are still in hospital or nursing their wounds at home, we ask the Kenya Kwanza government overnment to respect human rights and stop denying Kenyans their right to protest the many injustices being meted against them."