After an appeal made by Kenyan comedian and activist Eric Omondi, rallying Kenyans to support a grieving grandfather from Gatundu who recently lost his grandson under heartbreaking circumstances, Kenyans of goodwill have raised over KSh. 1M in a day.
In a video shared online, Omondi revealed that the elderly man, identified as James Muiruri, was struggling not just with grief but financially following the young boy’s death in what the grandfather alleges is medical negligence.
A video of the elderly man went viral online after he was caught on camera confronting staff at Igegania Level 4 Hospital.
In a statement, Muiruri shared that the child was denied admission due to a lack of registration with the Social Health Authority (SHA). After he registered and paid KSh. 3,600, there were still delays as doctors were on strike and an ambulance could not be dispatched without authorisation.
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Omondi confirmed that the target had been met by showing his gratitude online.
“Thank you, team sisi kwa sisi. We are at Ksh 1 Million, thanking Kenyans for their quick and heartfelt response. The funds were raised barely 24 hours after the emotional appeal online, urging the public to stand with Mzee, who is facing deep grief and financial strain following the tragic loss,” Eric said.
Eric has promised full transparency on how the money will be used, noting that the fund will go toward funeral costs and basic support for the grandfather to ease his day-to-day burdens.
Hospital under investigation
The hospital responsible is already under investigation by the Kiambu county government for a separate incident – the death of an 11-year-old boy after staff failed to dispatch an ambulance.
“We shall hold every employee accountable to make sure that we don’t have a repeat of this, either in this hospital or in any of our hospitals in the county,” said Dr Elias Maina, CECM Health, Kiambu.
