Lung Patient Caught in Tussle Over Millions Kenyans Donated for Her Treatment in India

Kenyans on Social Media have expressed mixed reactions over how donations to a lung patient who turned blind and depended on oxygen cylinders were handled.

Users stormed on the funds drive manager Ndungu Nyoro’s Facebook wall demanding for details on how millions raised by well-wishers for the patient's treatment were utilized.

On Wednesday Nyoro, who has spearheaded several crowd-funding initiatives for dozens of Kenyans through Facebook rubbished claims by a Gikuyu TV Journalist that the patient, Gladys Kamande never received treatment due to lack of funds, terming the allegation as false.

“Out of the total KSh 9.5 million raised, the trips to India and local hospital visits have consumed about Kshs. 4.5M The last to I checked the account had a balance of Kshs 5M. Gladys returned from India on Saturday. She developed breathing difficulties on Monday. When she reached out to me I asked she be taken to Komarock Modern Hospital because that’s where they understand her history. She was admitted in the evening,” Mr Nyoro wrote.

“I was on phone with the attending doctor till midnight when he assured me she was stable. On Tuesday I spent my afternoon at her bedside. Her daughters Annita and Njeri were also there. It’s quite unfortunate to read from someone and the few others who have not been there before, insinuating that I and the other signatories are not effectively supporting her. I wonder why it has taken all this time to realize I’m the wrong person.” He added.

Nyoro said that trouble began when he asked Kamande's family to account for money used during their tour to India, where Kamande travelled for treatment.

“I started receiving calls that I was making it hard for Gladys to access treatment which is not true as my job is to ensure the money Kenyans donated is used for its sole intended purpose which is treatment only,” Mr Nyoro told Nairobi News.

Kamande on the other hand said that she encountered difficulties in accessing the fund for her treatment in India as Nyoro abandoned her.

“At some point Ndungu stopped picking my calls and responding to messages and we were detained at the hotel for unpaid bills. The money was availed later on after myself and my daughter who was accompanying me talked to the other signatory, my landlord Mr Kibue,” Ms Kamande said.

Nyoro denied the allegation by Kamande and claimed that Kamande was demanding the Sh 5 million in the account so she could purchase a piece of land, but Kamande denied the accusation.