- Grace Njoki Mulei, 61, was arrested by officers of the Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) on the evening of Thursday, January 23
- The arrest followed his previous protest against the functioning of the Community Health Authority (SHA) system during a press conference with the secretary of the Council of Ministers of Health Dr. Deborah Barasa
- Civil society and medical organizations have demanded his release, and condemned his arrest as a violation of civil rights to advocate for quality health care.
The Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) has confirmed the arrest of Grace Njoki Mulei, a 61-year-old woman who was detained on Thursday, January 23.
Source: Twitter
According to a video that TUKO.co.ke watched, Mulei was caught while seeking treatment at Eastleigh's Lednan Hospital, located near Juja Road.
He was later taken to Capital Hill Police Station, and is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, January 24.
Why was Grace Njoki Mulei arrested?
According to information from DCIMulei's arrest is linked to an incident on January 15, when he and other patients invaded the board room of the Ministry of Health during a press conference held by Health Minister Deborah Barasa.
“The suspect has been arrested following reports of disturbances in the Council of the Ministry of Health,” the DCI statement read in part.
The DCI's statement adds that Mulei was 'successfully' traced to his whereabouts and arrested.
However, the manner of his arrest and the charges brought against him have sparked a great public debate.
Civil society groups, including the Kenya Medical Association and the Kenya Lawyers Association, have since condemned his detention, calling for his immediate release and the charges against him to be dropped.
Violence in the offices of the Ministry of Health
On January 15, 2025, Grace Njoki Mulei, along with other patients, disrupted a Ministry of Health press conference meant to update the public on health issues.
Mulei, along with other protestors, seemed disgusted and saddened by the ongoing issues with the Community Health Authority (SHA), demanding answers about the delays and inefficiencies caused by the system.
The protestors included a mother who had just undergone a caesarean section and could not leave the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) due to issues related to SHA.
The group entered the meeting room where the meeting was held, and passed security measures to express their views.
Following protest that, KNH confirmed that the SHA system was indeed faulty, causing a 48-hour delay in handling patients.
Mulei's son, George Mulei, has claimed that his mother's health has deteriorated due to the trauma of her arrest, adding that she has existing conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.
George called on the authorities to release his mother and for the public to be informed of the specific charges he faces. He denounced the way his mother was treated violently by DCI officers, claiming that she was forced to write a statement under duress.
Johnston Daniel Junior, the family's lawyer, also contested the charges, insisting that Mulei's actions in the Ministry of Health were fully in line with his rights as a citizen, and that he was only exercising his right to seek accountability from public officials regarding criticism of health issues. health that concerns citizens.
An increase in kidnapping cases
The arrests come amid an alarming increase in kidnappings and mysterious disappearances in Kenya over the past few weeks, particularly targeting government critics and dissidents.
The increase in reports of these events has raised concerns about the safety of citizens advocating for change, with many fearing that the government may be suppressing freedom of expression and public protest.
Read ENGLISH VERSION
Do you have an exciting story that you would like us to publish? Please contact us via news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
