A request by Machakos County Government to have Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital to waive accumulated bills for ailing 52-year old researcher Elijah Musyoma Kioko has been rejected.
The county, together with the National Museum have struggled to clear the bills for the celebrated educationist and researcher whose bills have ballooned to a staggering Sh3.5 million.
The researcher managed to get Sh1 million SHA contributions but a request for a waiver by Machos County Governor was rejected.
Kioko, a resident of Masinga in Machakos County, first came to national attention in October 2024, when he underwent open heart surgery at the same hospital.
Colleagues at the National Museum have recalled how staff “admired his courage” as he battled a critical valve defect.
After a successful operation, he returned home to recuperate, but he was recently readmitted for followup treatment.
On April 22, 2025, hospital accounts showed his inpatient bill had climbed to Sh2,883,878.35 (registration, pharmacy, bed charges, surgery fees, ICU nursing, diagnostics and more), topped up to a provisional Sh3.5 million once accrued costs and consumables were included.
His family managed to mobilize Sh156,000 in savings and insurance covered Sh1,298,000, but more than Sh1.5 million remained outstanding.
In a letter dated March 20, 2025, Governor Wavinya Ndeti appealed directly to the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer for a waiver of the balance, citing Kioko’s service to both Machakos residents and the government.
“He has been admitted to your hospital; the bill has accumulated and his family is unable to raise the balance due to economic hardships,” the governor wrote, urging that Kioko be discharged without further debt.
Kioko’s colleagues at the National Museum have rallied to his side, organizing a fundraiser that has already gathered several hundred thousand shillings in pledges.
“He has contributed so much through our public education programmes,” said one peer.
“Now it’s our turn to support him.”
Hospital administrators note that waiver requests of this magnitude are rare but not unprecedented, especially when backed by the governor’s office and SHA.
Hospital CEO Dr. Jane Wekesa commented saying, “We are committed to ensuring patients are not crippled by unavoidable medical costs, and we welcome any and necessary cooperative solutions from county and national agencies.”
Kioko said he is hopeful.
“I never imagined so many people would step in to help,” Kioko said from his bedside.
“My focus now is on recovery, so I can get back to my work preserving Kenya’s cultural heritage.”
As SHA and Machakos County work to clear the rest of the bill, the patient’s story underscores the vital importance of social health coverage and compassionate governance.
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