A request made by the Machakos County Government to have Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital waive the accumulated medical bills for 52-year-old researcher Elijah Musyoma Kioko has been turned down.
The researcher, who is also a celebrated educationist, has been struggling to clear his medical bills, which have ballooned to KSh 3.5 million. Both the Machakos County Government and the National Museum have tried to alleviate the financial burden, but have faced challenges in securing a solution.
Elijah managed to secure KSh 1 million through the SHA (Social Health Assistance) contributions, but a direct request by Machakos County Governor Wavinya Ndeti for a waiver of the remaining balance was rejected.
Elijah, a resident of Masinga in Machakos County, came to national attention in October 2024, when he underwent open-heart surgery at Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Colleagues at the National Museum commended his bravery as he battled a critical heart valve defect.
Following a successful surgery, Elijah was discharged to recover at home, but he was recently readmitted for follow-up care.
By April 22, 2025, Elijah’s hospital bill had risen to KSh 2,883,878.35, covering charges such as registration, pharmacy, bed fees, surgery, ICU care, and diagnostics.
With additional costs and consumables factored in, the total climbed to KSh 3.5 million.
Elijah’s family managed to raise KSh 156,000 through savings, while insurance covered KSh 1,298,000. However, over KSh 1.5 million remained unpaid.
In a letter dated March 20, 2025, Governor Wavinya Ndeti appealed directly to the hospital’s CEO for a waiver of the remaining balance, citing Elijah’s contributions to both Machakos residents and Kenya as a whole.
“He has been admitted to your hospital; the bill has accumulated, and his family is unable to settle the balance due to financial difficulties,” the governor’s letter read, urging the hospital to discharge Elijah without adding further debt.
In response, the SHA Board, which includes veteran trade-unionist Francis Atwoli, approved an immediate KSh 1 million contribution toward the bill. “I am sitting on the SHA board representing workers, and I want to assure Kenyans that SHA is now working,” Atwoli said.
This contribution reduced the outstanding balance to approximately KSh 500,000, a sum that the county and well-wishers are working to raise before Elijah can return home.
Elijah’s colleagues at the National Museum have rallied behind him, organizing a fundraiser that has already raised several hundred thousand shillings in pledges. “Elijah has contributed so much through our public education programs,” said one peer.
“Now it’s our turn to support him.”
Hospital administrators note that while waiver requests of this nature are rare, they are not entirely unheard of, especially when backed by local government and SHA. Dr. Jane Wekesa, the hospital’s CEO, commented, “We are committed to ensuring that patients are not overwhelmed by unavoidable medical costs, and we welcome cooperation from county and national agencies.”
Elijah, moved by the outpouring of support, shared his gratitude from his hospital bed. “I never imagined so many people would step in to help,” he said.
“My focus now is on recovery so that I can return to my work preserving Kenya’s cultural heritage.”
As SHA and Machakos County work together to settle the remaining bill, Elijah’s journey serves as a reminder of the critical role social health coverage and compassionate leadership play in the lives of individuals facing medical hardship.
