Joseph Irungu denied treatment at Kenyatta Hospital, given painkillers for his arm instead of surgery

Joseph Irungu alias Jowie has been a victim of the tug of war between the Prisons Department and Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).

The two government agencies have had a standoff over unpaid bill amounting to Kes 31 million. KNH has been turning away inmates and remandees brought to the hospital to seek treatment.

KNH Director of Clinical Services Peter Masinde said the prison’s account had been frozen and warned that the hospital would only handle emergency cases from the correctional facility until the debt was cleared.

“They have got a debt of Kes 31 million, so we are treating their patients who are emergency cases only. They have promised to clear it, but we don’t know when,” Dr Masinde was quoted by the Standard.

Painkillers

Joseph Irungu was on Monday November 12th taken to KNH for surgery on his arm but instead he was only given painkillers and sent away.

Jowie was was expected to be admitted to Ward 6A for an operation on his arm stemming from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in an alleged suicide attempt before he was arrested in connection with the murder of businesswoman Monica Kimani.

Jowie’s parents had offered to pay the bill and deposited some money after KNH refused to operate on him, but the hospital turned down the payment explaining that they don’t deal with individuals if they have been brought in by the prisons authorities.