By Azizah Abdullahi | Wajir Today | Friday, June 5, 2026
Wajir County Referral Hospital has defended its handling of a woman injured during the Madaraka Day celebrations at Wajir Stadium, following allegations from her family that she did not receive adequate treatment and was forced to seek costly private care.
The patient, identified by relatives as Fatuma Mohamed, sustained a serious fracture during a stampede-like incident at the stadium entrance on June 1, 2026, as residents gathered to mark the national holiday. She was initially rushed to Wajir County Referral Hospital for emergency care.
Family members, however, allege that despite being admitted, the patient did not receive comprehensive treatment and were instead told to obtain registration under the Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme before further medical services could proceed.
“She was terribly injured. We took her to the main hospital where she stayed for two nights,” said her relative, Quresh Abdinur. “We were visited by the Governor and Senator, and later told to register for SHA. We stayed there for two nights without adequate treatment, so we moved her to a private facility.”
He claimed the family has since spent about KSh 120,000 on treatment at a private hospital, including flying in a specialist from Nairobi, and expects further costs as the patient continues to receive care.
Fatuma’s father, Mohamed Hussein, also said the family opted to transfer her after what they described as a lack of adequate treatment at the public facility. “She did not receive proper treatment for two nights. We had no choice but to go to a private hospital,” he said.
The allegations have sparked public debate on social media over emergency care protocols and access to services unde restructured health financing system.
In a response issued through the Chief Executive Officer Dr. Dahir Somo, Wajir County Referral Hospital rejected claims of neglect, saying the patient received prompt assessment and specialised medical attention upon admission.
According to the hospital, a CT scan revealed severe pelvic injuries, including comminuted displaced fractures of the left posterior acetabular wall and column, as well as dislocation of the left femoral head. The facility said orthopaedic specialists recommended urgent surgical management.
Dr. Somo stated that the patient was being prepared for continued treatment under the SHA framework, which would have covered investigations and surgery, subject to procedural requirements.
However, he said the hospital later discovered that the patient had left the facility before the planned treatment could be completed.
“The next time management became aware of the patient’s whereabouts was through social media posts alleging she had not been assisted,” the statement read.
The hospital maintained that had the patient remained admitted, she would not have been required to make out-of-pocket payments for treatment, including the CT scan and surgery, under SHA coverage.
The incident comes amid ongoing national rollout challenges of Kenya’s Social Health Authority system, which has faced questions over registration delays and access to services in public hospitals.
