Nyeri family appeals for help to settle Sh7.3m hospital bill blocking kin's burial

A family in Nyeri is appealing for help to settle a Sh7.3 million hospital bill that has delayed the burial of their kin.

Titus Gatuthu Kaburu Theuri, 82, a retired civil servant from Borehamwood, England, succumbed to septic pneumonia while receiving treatment at Metropolitan Hospital in Nairobi.

The family says their struggles began after his death on October 24, 2024.

 "For nearly three months, we haven’t been able to lay him to rest due to the huge hospital bill," said Kaz Theuri, deceased’s son.

Kaz claims the hospital has detained his body, preventing the family from obtaining a burial permit, which he notes has added to their emotional distress.

“The hospital makes me feel like they care more about their income than their patient's interests,” he added.

Hospital records show the patient accumulated a bill of Sh7.3 million. The family raised Sh4 million and surrendered a land title deed as part of their commitment to settling the remaining balance after the burial.

David Kibacia, the deceased’s brother-in-law, described the family's emotional turmoil.

“We had hoped to resolve this before the end of last year, but it didn’t happen. We’re still hopeful it will be resolved,” said Kibacia.

With Theuri’s body still at the Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary, the family says it is considering legal action to compel the hospital to release their kin for burial.