Nairobi, 23 January 2024 – The arrest of Grace Njoki Mulei, a 61-year-old activist advocating for improved healthcare services, has drawn sharp criticism from various organizations. Mulei was apprehended at Ladnan Hospital in Eastleigh, Nairobi, while seeking treatment for a knee condition.
The arrest comes after Mulei participated in peaceful protests on January 15, 2025, at the Ministry of Health offices to highlight inequalities and inefficiencies within the Social Health Authority (SHA). Individuals identifying themselves as officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) reportedly removed Mulei from the hospital and charged her with “creating a disturbance in a government office.” She has been denied bail under Article 49(1)(h) of the Kenyan Constitution, a move activists argue violates her fundamental rights.
Organizations such as the Kenya Medical Association, the Law Society of Kenya, and the Police Reforms Working Group have condemned the incident as a violation of the constitutional right to healthcare and freedom of expression.
“Such actions are unacceptable and undermine the fundamental right to health and safety. Advocating for improved public health services is not a crime,” the organizations stated, urging authorities to drop the charges against Mulei.
Mulei’s arrest raises broader concerns about activists’ safety in Kenya and the misuse of state power to suppress dissent. The incident has also sparked fears for the safety of other patients and activists who participated in the protests.
Background: Mulei was part of a group of patients and mothers who peacefully protested SHA inefficiencies, demanding reforms and improved services.
The statement calling for Mulei’s immediate release was co-signed by over a dozen organizations, including Amnesty International Kenya, the International Commission of Jurists (Kenya Section), FIDA Kenya, and Transparency International Kenya.
This case highlights the growing tension between activists and state authorities and underscores the urgent need for reform to ensure human rights and accountability.
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