A 22 year old father in Kenya has avoided a jail term for trying to smuggle his newborn daughter out of a hospital.
Boniface Murage was unable to settle the hospital bill for the delivering of his daughter so tried smuggling her out.
Murage was expected to settle a bill of $500 at the Kenyatta National Hospital but said he was unable to afford it.
While trying to smuggle his one-month-old baby out of the facility, security guards arrested him.
Murage was offered a pro-bono legal service by a Kenyan lawyer called Charles L. Madowo.
In court Murage pleaded guilty and could have been jailed but he rather received a suspended three-month sentence.
The Magistrate who gave the ruling, Muthoni Nzibe released Murage but that was on condition that he doesn’t commit any wrong within three months.
We are glad to report that Mr. Boniface has been given a suspended sentence of 3months and he shall be set free with a condition that he does not commit an offense within that period of time. We are now processing his release order. He will be home today. https://t.co/wR64Po6kSO
— Charles L. Madowo (@CharlesLMadowo) February 19, 2019
Murage can now go home with his daughter, with his story touching many Kenyans. Well-wishers reportedly paid Murage’s bill
Kenyans react
There have been reactions from Kenyans who appear to have sympathy for Murage. Some wondered why he had to be put on trial for such an incident.
How now? For wanting to go home with his child? Aren’t these the fathers the church keeps singing about?
— #LandFirst Mwalimu Wandia (@wmnjoya) February 18, 2019
He should be set free and in exchange jail any one corrupt guy in the management of KNH, ministry of Health or Nairobi county govt. Health department.
— Philosopher (@Philosopher254) February 18, 2019
He had to do what he had to do. Its tough out there
— Xanau (@Trackmann) February 18, 2019
Felt so much empathy for this guy. He was just being a dad yet the judicial system did not see this.
— Joey Tribbiani ???? (@grizhilz) February 18, 2019
Universal Health Coverage will become a reality when such cases are not converted to criminal acts. What happened to philanthropy? Does it only apply when the subject is a celebrity? The court should order a waiver of the bill!
— NGINYAH NGARUMA (@ngaruman) February 18, 2019
Detaining patients over unpaid bills
Last year a report by the AP revealed that a number of major hospitals across the world are reportedly detaining patients who are unable to settle their medical bills.
These hospitals many in Africa are reportedly operating a policy of “if you don’t pay up, you don’t go home”.
The Kenyatta National Hospital in Kenya was named as a notable facility where detaining patients unable to settle their medical bills is a norm.
AP reports that its investigations showed that several patients have been prevented from even leaving the facility to seek help in settling their bills.
Source: Africafeeds.com
