Senators clear hospital in Walibora’s death mystery
A Senate committee has absolved Kenyatta National Hospital of blame in the death of celebrated Swahili scholar Prof Ken Walibora.
He allegedly met his death at KNH on April 10, 2020 following a hit-and-run accident on Landhies Road.
Reports said the don was said to have been hit by a bus as he attempted to escape an attack by street children.
Following media reports of the alleged negligence, the House Committee on Health chaired by Trans-Nzoia Senator Michael Mbito invited KNH to a meeting to clarify circumstances that surrounded the death, including details of how and when he was brought to the hospital.
Lawmakers also sought details about the time the deceased was attended to and emergency interventions undertaken on his behalf prior to his death.
In the course of its investigations, the nine-member committee found that the Walibora received the necessary life-saving medical emergency interventions following his admission to KNH, and that he accessed intensive care services at the critical care unit of the A&E Department.
Unknown African
“Committee further established that the late Professor was admitted as an unknown African, remained unidentified up to, at least, three days after his death owing to a lack of identification documents,” committee report tabled on Tuesday said.
It adds: “As with accident victims with private insurance but lacking their identification documents, had his identity been known, he may have received a timely transfer to alternative private health facilities.”
Committee observed that whilst there was no proof of negligence by KNH prior to the death, many victims of road traffic accidents and violence die from lack of receiving timely life-saving medical interventions and appropriate emergency health care.
Committee also found that the delayed operationalisation of the Health Act, 2017 and the Emergency Health Policy, 2019 are key limitations in the provision of emergency treatment.
