A family in Kagongo Village, Mathioya constituency in Murang’a is in agony following their inability to settle their kin’s hospital bill that had accrued to Sh940,000 by the time of his passing away a month ago.
At the homestead, we find minimal activity and less human movement going on which is unusual for a home that has lost a loved one.
The weather-beaten wooden gate entrance, and an empty tent at the corner of the homestead, were a testament to the fact that the neighbours who at first camped in this home had given up and resumed their daily activities oblivious of the hollowness lingering in the home.
“At first, we had mourners steaming here every hour, day and night but as days turned into a month we have been left on our own and our greatest desire is to accord our loved one a decent sendoff,” the deceased’s wife Florence Muthoni said, occasionally wiping a drop of tear from her eyes.
She said her husband Karemiri Kahiga was knocked down by a vehicle in Nairobi on November 8 and was rushed to Mama Lucy Hospital where an MRI showed he had sustained life-threatening injuries in his head.
“He was urgently required to be put in the ICU and so we were referred to Kenyatta National Hospital but we could not secure a bed for him so we opted for a nearby Ushirika Hospital which had an ICU bed ready for occupancy,” she said.
“Despite our efforts, he unfortunately passed away on the 7th day and the bill had already shot to Sh940.000 and even now the mortuary bill is still accruing as we are being charged Sh1000 per day,”.
The family has tried to raise the funds in vain and appeals to well-wishers to intervene and help them bury their kin.
“This family is in dire need and as neighbours, we have tried to help even through holding a fundraiser but the amount we raised did not even reach Sh50,000,” Mercy Wacuka a village elder said.
The deceased’s elderly mother Wambui Kahiga with devastation and pain written all over her face said since her son passed on, their life has not been the same.
“We have tried to knock on doors just to get help to raise the required amount but all in futility, it is already sad enough that he passed on but not being able to bury his remains,” she said.
