Hospital Releases Remains of 13-Year-Old Kenyan Boy Detained for 4 Months over Sh17.8 Million Bill

The body of a 13-year-old Kenyan boy that had been detained for the past four months over medical arrears amounting to Sh17.8 million has finally been released.

On Tuesday, Gertrude’s Children Hospital announced it has released the remains of Brian Kimani Njoroge to the family unconditionally.

The boy was undergoing treatment for Leukemia after a relapse and had been admitted to the hospital for nearly six months before passing away in February.

His family was in early March forced to hold a funeral for their son without his body after the hospital refused to release the body, insisting that the family first settles the bill. Family and friends of Brian converged at ACK St. Stephens Church in Gatuikira, Kiambu County on March 11th for a service followed by a mock burial at the family’s farm the same day.

The bill later dropped from Sh17.8 million to Sh11.9 million after Gertrude’s Hospital wrote off Sh1.5 million while the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) settled 668,000. The other amount was paid through donations from well-wishers.

The family said it had spent at least Sh30 million for their son’s treatment in India and Kenya. The boy’s body has transferred to Chiromo Mortuary awaiting burial.