Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai yesterday succumbed to pressure from MPs and agreed to withdraw the case against Grace Njoki Mulei (inset). Njoki stormed Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa’s press briefing at Afya House last week.

Kimtai, who confirmed that the Ministry of Health (MOH) was the complainant in the case, agreed to have the matter dropped in order to save the image of the ministry and to bring to an end the outcry from the public.

 “In the interest of the image of the Ministry of Health and the public, the Ministry will withdraw the complaint,” PS Kimtai assured the lawmakers while confirming to them it was a charge of trespass and causing commotion.

The 61-year-old Njoki made headlines last week after her dramatic arrest at Ladlan Hospital in Eastleigh, where she had gone to seek treatment.

She was arraigned, charged with causing a disturbance at the Ministry of Health’s offices and later released on a Sh10,000 cash bail.

The decision came after lawmakers led by House Speaker Moses Wetang’ula told the PS and ministry officials to clarify the specific offence Njoki had committed when she visited a public office to express her frustrations over the failures of the Social Health Authority (SHA).

Free advice

Speaking during a midterm retreat in Naivasha, MPs insisted that Afya House is a public place where all Kenyans can raise questions and therefore no one should be victimised for that.

  “I will give you free advice now that you have admitted that the Ministry of Health is the complainant in the case against Ms Mulei. Please consider reviewing it and withdrawing the complaint,” Wetang’ula, who is also a lawyer, said, arguing that the ministry being a public place, one cannot talk of trespass.

“If I were in the interest in the image of the ministry and the republic, I will withdraw the complaint,” he added.

Dr Abdi Mohamed, the chairperson of the Social Health Authority (SHA) is the owner of the facility Grace was arrested.