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The arrest of Grace Njoki, a vocal advocate for universal health coverage, has ignited widespread condemnation on social media, with critics labeling it an attack on free expression. Njoki was taken into custody on Thursday, January 23, 2025, while seeking medical attention at Ladnan Hospital in Eastleigh. She had visited the hospital to apply for knee surgery but ended up at the center of a national debate on citizens’ rights and government accountability.
Njoki’s arrest followed her involvement in a protest at the Ministry of Health, where she, alongside another woman, interrupted a press briefing by Health Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Barasa. The women demanded the immediate implementation of the Social Health Authority (SHA), a policy designed to deliver universal health coverage but delayed in its rollout. Their actions highlighted public frustration with the government’s perceived inaction on a critical healthcare initiative.
Her son, George Mulei, recounted the distressing moments leading to her detention. According to Mulei, Njoki called him in a panic, claiming she was being apprehended by individuals identifying themselves as officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). By the time he arrived at the hospital, she had already been taken away. Mulei informed newsrooms that his mother was later located at Capitol Hill Police Station, where she faced charges of creating a disturbance and resisting arrest.
Her lawyer, Johnston Daniel Junior, decried the conditions of her detention, asserting that Njoki was denied cash bail and coerced into making statements under duress. Daniel criticized the manner of her arrest, noting that a dozen officers were deployed to apprehend her. “This is overreach. She’s not a criminal. She was exercising her democratic right to demand better healthcare for all,” he remarked.
The incident has sparked a robust online campaign for her release, with the hashtag #FreeGraceNjoki trending across platforms. Activists, legal professionals, and concerned citizens have rallied to her defense, accusing the government of stifling dissent. Justin Ndegwa, a vocal social media user, questioned the rationale behind Njoki’s arrest, stating, “She was protesting about a broken health insurance system. Why punish her for that?” Another commentator, Abel Mokaya, added, “This intimidation will not resolve the real issues. Fix the healthcare mess instead.”
The Social Health Authority, at the heart of the protest, was proposed as a transformative solution to Kenya’s healthcare challenges, promising affordable and accessible services for all citizens. However, delays in its implementation have left many frustrated, particularly vulnerable groups who struggle to afford medical care.
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