Ministry of Health withdraws case against Grace Mulei

Social health Authority (SHA) lioness Grace Njoki narrates how police dramatically arrested and dragged her out of hospital. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

The Ministry of Health has withdrawn a case filed against Human Rights activist Grace Njoki Mulei for allegedly causing disturbance at Afya House.

In a letter to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations on Thursday, February 6, Health PS representative James Ntabo has said the decision was made on ‘humanitarian grounds’.

“The Ministry of Health has on humanitarian grounds considered the criminal complaint lodged against the accused person (Grace Njoki Mulei) for causing disturbance within its precincts and hereby requests that the complaint be withdrawn,” Ntabo says.

“The purpose of this letter is to request that no further police action is preferred/taken on the case. Please notify this office once the complaint is formally withdrawn,’.

The Ministry of Health now says it will withdraw trespass charges against Grace Njoki, the 61-year-old woman who stormed Afya house over SHIF failures.

In a bid to save face from angry Kenyans a week ago, Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai said the ministry will withdraw all the charges against Njoki.

Kimutai appeared before the Members of the National Assembly who were in a Mid-term retreat in Naivasha.

“In the interest of the image of the Ministry of Health and the public, the Ministry will withdraw the complaint.” Kimutai said.

Njoki was arrested for allegedly causing a disturbance at the Ministry of Health offices but was later released on Sh10,000 cash bail.

She was in Eastleigh, Nairobi and taken to Capitol Hill Police Station before she was released the following morning after police failed to present her in court.

Her arrest sparked public outrage as Kenyans on social media bashed the ministry for the manner they had handled the issue.