The entrance to the Accident and Emergency unit at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi.
Dr Ndege Chacha, whose body was detained at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) over unpaid bills, died battling a silent illness while harbouring dreams of a wedding and building a home.
The young doctor, described as meticulous and compassionate, was his family's breadwinner. The self-sponsored masters student succumbed to liver complications on March 14.
"He battled the disease in silence to protect his expectant wife and our family," his sister Keziah Daisy told the 'Nation.' "It happened so fast. We will lay him to rest on Monday."
According to Keziah, Dr Chacha's health problems began with stomach aches and occasional bloating, which he initially managed with medication.
"That's how it started. It bloated sometimes, and as a doctor, he took a few pills to suppress it. But as time went on, the pain became unbearable," said Keziah.
His condition deteriorated rapidly, leading him through several medical facilities: from Kitengela West Hospital, where liver problems were first suspected, to Halisi Hospital for scans, then to Upper Hill to consult a gastroenterologist. He was eventually referred to UON students' health services before being transferred to KNH on March 11, just three days before his death.
Sick and weak
"The liver had a problem which affected both kidneys and brain. He was very sick and weak," Keziah explained.
“He died undergoing treatment on March 14. The family was so devastated. It happened so fast. We will lay him to rest on Monday,” she added.
She describes him as a very kind, meticulous, orderly doctor who loved his patients so much that he would call to check on them even after they had recovered. He also loved children.
“When he was with us, he would watch movies, review cars, and dance. He only saw the good in people, and when he wronged someone, he made sure to apologise. We want people to remember him for his goodness and dedication to his patients,” she said.
Kenyatta National Hospital entrance pictured on February 8, 2025.
"We also want to encourage other doctors to put patients first. We want them to remember him as a God-fearing man. He loved God, and he used to say that when death comes, he will embrace it. I didn't know it would come so soon," said Dr Chacha's sister.
Dr Dennis Miskellah, the Deputy Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU), lamented that “in a memorandum of understanding between UoN and KNH, there is nothing included to protect the doctors who are doing their masters and studying in KNH. KNH does not recognise interns as their employees. So you work there and offer services for free, but when you fall sick, you have no medical cover.
Medical cover
Doctors, healthcare workers, and civil servants deserve medical cover. It makes no sense that we work and serve this government, but when we fall sick, nobody cares for us. Who cares for the carer? Registrars should be paid and must have a medical cover or be allowed to be seen for free in the hospitals they serve at,” said Dr Miskellah, adding that doctors will go on a go-slow until the bill is waived.
However, the Ministry of Health says KHN is being unfairly targeted in this case.
"A registrar who is doing a masters is either sponsored or self-sponsored. If you are sponsored then the employer who is sponsoring must have paid for the insurance. If you are self-sponsored, then you pay for your medical insurance. It is not the responsibility of Kenyatta to pay them medical insurance because you are not a KNH employee," said Dr Harry Kimtai, the PS for Medical Services.
As they mourned Dr Chacha, doctors hit the streets on Tuesday, lamenting delayed remittance of SHIF contributions, leading to their being denied treatment in hospitals. At least 30 counties are yet to remit the deductions and MoH says it cannot intervene.
