Government let down: Terror attack survivor allegedly detained in hospital days after being discharged over unsettled bill

A majority of Kenyans seem to have moved on since Al-Shabaab militants descended on DusitD2 Hotel at 14 Riverside in Westlands, Nairobi, killing 21 people on the spot, but the same cannot be said about the victims of the terror strike. Emmanuel Omalla, one of the victims who sustained serious injuries during January 15, 2019, DusitD2 ordeal, has not been able to move on with his life.

Omalla was one of the 28 victims of the 14 Riverside terror strike who suffered injuries but were rescued and admitted to various hospitals in Nairobi.

 

Inset: Emmanuel Omalla survived the DusitD2 terror attack after he was shot several times on the stomach, back, foot. Photo: Courtesy 

Reports that emerged on Monday, February 11(today), indicate Omalla who narrowly survived the terrifying ordeal after being shot seven times on the stomach, back and foot and left to die, was detained at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) for 10 days after discharge because of a huge bill and after the government failed to keep its promise.

According to Omalla who works as a delivery person, the Deputy President William Ruto paid them a visit during which he said the government would shoulder the burden of financing their hospital bills. Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Sicily Kariuki and her Education counterpart Amina Mohamed also showed up at the hospital a day after Ruto left and gave assurance the government would foot the medical bills.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on January 16, 2019, confirmed all the terrorists who laid siege to the DusitD2 complex were eliminated and in the statement at least 700 civilians were safely evacuated from the seven-story building. The president and several other leaders commended the multi-agency security team for promptly neutralizing all the criminals. The 21 deceased victims of the attack have since been laid to rest.

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