In September 2005, the Health Minister then Charity Ngilu was admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) for treatment.
This was hailed as a vote of confidence in Kenya’s public hospitals. Ngilu caught the attention of many as she was the first senior politician to be treated at a Kenyan public hospital.
When she left the hospital, she was satisfied with services at the East and Central Africa’s arguably largest referral hospital.
At the time, Ngilu challenged her colleagues in Cabinet and fellow MPs to seek medical services in public hospitals saying the institutions had adequate facilities and qualified medical personnel.
That was the first and last time a senior politician was treated at a public institution. Later, Ngilu, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his wife Ida, former president Daniel arap Moi and former Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura, were and have been, treated at the privately-owned, high-end Nairobi Hospital.
Despite her gesture, Ngilu, Raila and Muthaura had to fly out of the country for ‘specialised’ treatment.
Among those who have been treated outside Kenya, ironically include Anyang’ Nyong’o who was the Medical Services Minister in the grand coalition government.
Nyong’o was in the US for a month where he underwent prostate cancer treatment.
In December 2015, Kisumu Deputy Governor Ruth Odinga travelled to the UK for treatment on her broken leg.
The latest to be flown out of the country is former President Mwai Kibaki who is currently in South Africa for a blood clot removal according to media reports.
High net worth Kenyans have always sought treatment outside Kenya despite the availability of some services locally.
This is an indictment of the country’s health system which former Public Services Minister Dalmas Otieno slammed after Nyong’o returned. He wondered why, despite nearly half a decade after independence, Kenyans still had to go abroad for treatment.
When politicians tell Kenyans “tuko pamoja”, it is only when they need your votes so they can get perks for high end services which more than 80 percent of Kenyans cannot afford.
When we fight for them because the man at the top belongs to my tribe, it will never make them push the common man’s agenda. Unless they fight to enable you have a comfortable life, it’s not worth making enemies among those who feel your pain.
After all, the enemies will raise funds for you if you need airlifting or travelling for medical tourism.