This archive report was first published on 6 January 2020.
Esther Passaris, Nairobi's woman representative, has found herself at the center of a heated debate on social media after revealing that she underwent a successful spinal surgery in India.
According to her tweet, Passaris flew to Ahmedabad, India on December 31, 2019, and had the surgery the following day at CIMS Hospital. She expressed gratitude to God, her family, and those who prayed for her during the procedure.
However, her tweet sparked outrage among Kenyans, who felt that she was insensitive to the struggles of those who cannot afford medical treatment abroad. One Twitter user responded, 'Poor Kenyans who voted for you to mend the healthcare system locally can't say the same. They are used to being told RIP.'
Passaris' response, which included a claim that she invested Sh50 million to be elected, further infuriated her critics. Artist King Kaka weighed in, saying, 'Shame, shame, shame. The talk should be on how we have made our healthcare reliable to the point you are getting your surgery at KNH. Wewe Uko Hapo unatuambia juu ya 50million. Stop being selfish for once, just for once, and serve the people who put you there. Shame.'
