Doctor accused of raping patient at Coast hospital

A doctor was yesterday charged with rape and indecent act following public outrage over alleged sexual assault of a patient at Pandya Hospital in Mombasa.

The 31-year-old renal doctor, Dias Juma Wabwire, appeared before Mombasa chief magistrate Alex Ithuku charged with rape and performing an indecent act on a dialysis patient at a private hospital.

He is accused of intentionally and unlawfully raping the patient on January 31, 2025, at around 0500 hours. The accused also faces an alternative charge of indecent act on a patient.

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He denied the charges and was released on a Sh500,000 bond with one surety.

“The alleged offense is serious but bailable. Considering the circumstances, I admit the accused to bond of Sh500,00 with one surety,” said Ithuku

According to the reports, Wabwire has been attending to MTK for the past one year. It is alleged that Wabwire took advantage of morning dialysis sessions to sexually assault MTK.

Yesterday, the Federation of Women Lawyers-Kenya and human rights groups called for a thorough investigation into the case that has sparked outrage from members of the public.

The doctor reportedly sexually harassed MTK through sexual conversation, groping, and raping her over a period of time. 

At the same time, the groups called for investigations into similar cases and urged residents to report cases of sexual harassment by health workers.

In a statement read by Fida-Kenya Coast representative Jane Onyango, the inhuman acts started last year.

“This egregious act violates medical ethics, criminal law, and the fundamental rights of patients to safety and dignity,” the groups said.

In a brief unsigned statement yesterday, the hospital said it was alerted about the complaint on January 31 and took requisite steps to ensure the arrest of the suspect.

“On Friday 31st January, 2025, at about 0900 hours, the hospital’s management was alerted of a complaint by a female patient from the renal unit in connection with sexual assault by one of our male medical personnel.

“The hospital has taken all legal and procedural steps required of it as an institution, which steps led to the arrest of a medical personnel who is assisting police with investigations. The victims received the required immediate care, and a counsellor has been assigned to her by the hospital,” the statement read.

But the civil society groups demanded that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) investigate and charge staff members who knew about the sexual assault and took no action.

They demanded that the investigations be completed before the pre-trial conference. The case is set for mention on February 17 this year.

Fida-Kenya demanded that the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council and the Nursing Council of Kenya suspend the licenses of those involved until investigations are complete.

“Fida-Kenya will actively monitor this case and protect the survivor to ensure that she gets justice,” said Onyango. She said Fida-Kenya will also file a civil lawsuit against the hospital and seek compensation for the survivor for gross negligence and failure to protect her.