A 71-year-old woman from Makueni County is facing immense emotional and financial distress after her husband died while desperately trying to raise money to pay her escalating hospital bill, now standing at approximately Sh5.5 million.
The woman, identified as Alice Mumbua, remains admitted at Mega Life Hospital in Nairobi, where she has been unable to leave due to the unpaid medical fees.
Family members say she was hospitalised about five months ago after developing a serious illness, unaware at the time that the cost of treatment would spiral to such an overwhelming figure.
As Alice’s condition required prolonged care, the medical expenses kept rising week after week. Her husband, a casual labourer and the family’s sole breadwinner, took on the burden of raising funds to save his wife’s life.
Relatives say he sold nearly everything the family owned, including household items and personal belongings.
Through tireless efforts, he managed to raise Sh1.1 million, which was paid to the hospital. Despite the payment, a significant balance remained, and Alice was not discharged.
The pressure of sourcing additional funds reportedly took a severe toll on the man’s health. While still moving from place to place seeking help from friends, relatives, and local leaders, he suffered a stroke. He later passed away, leaving the family shattered and without its main source of support.
Alice says her grief was deepened by the fact that she was not allowed to leave the hospital to attend her husband’s burial. From her hospital bed, she appealed to the hospital management to grant her temporary release so she could mourn and take part in the burial arrangements, but the request was denied.
In a weak voice, Alice recounted how she was forced to accept the situation and give her blessings to those who attended the burial on her behalf. She described the ordeal as heartbreaking, saying no spouse should be denied the chance to say goodbye to their life partner.
The family says it is now completely overwhelmed. With the husband gone and no steady income, they are uncertain how they will clear the remaining hospital bill, having already exhausted all savings and support from relatives.
Alice Mumbua has now made a public appeal to the government, leaders from Makueni County, religious institutions, and well-wishers to come to her aid and help her regain both her freedom and dignity.
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