Governor Hassan Ali Joho has waived hospital and mortuary bills for patients in all Mombasa county hospitals, breathing relief to friends and families of the patients.
Joho made the announcement as he led this year's Madaraka Day celebrations at Tononoka grounds, ordering Francis Thoya, the county secretary, to effect the order.
"People are detained in several county health facilities because they have no money to pay for services. Because this is their county and I am their governor, I have ordered them released with immediate effect. The county will cater for their bills. Let them go home and enjoy their celebrations," he said on Friday.
According to Joho, the waiver is in line with the unity MoU between President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga.
During the fete that was also attended by several county government leaders including Senator Muhammad Faki, Joho also affirmed that the patients would be granted bus fares to their homes.