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Cancer warrior Jadudi detained at Indian hospital over Sh1m bill


University of Nairobi student Emmanuel Otieno, better known as Jadudi, is being detained in an Indian hospital over Sh1 million unsettled bill.

His father, Evance Ouma, has told Nairobi News that Jadudi is detained at Apollo Entrepreneur Hospital where he was admitted on February 20 for yet another surgery.

Jadudi shot into the limelight in 2015 after Jackson Biko, Business Daily writer, highlighted his battle with a brain tumor that had seen him undergo seven surgeries so far.

Biko’s blog post, The thing in Jadudi’s head, saw Kenyans raise Sh6.4 million in less than two days for Jadudi’s medical bill.

The funds were however the subject of a public uproar after it emerged that Jadudi’s medical expenses were actually covered by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF)

The Africa Cancer Foundation (ACF), which co-ordinated the funds drive, fell short of answering how the money was used.

‘DETAIL EVERY SHILLING’

“We will make public the financial report as and when it is ready, clearly detailing each and every shilling used and justification for use,” the foundation’s Managing Director Dorothy Nyong’o said in a statement in October 2015.

That report was never made public.

Jadudi’s  father told Nairobi News that his son was supposed to return home last Monday but could not be discharged due to the unpaid bill.

“His mother who takes care of him has told me that he is gaining stability and can now fly back to Kenya. But the hospital insists that it has to be paid the Sh1 million before being discharged,” said Mr Ouma.

He said the hospital had stopped providing any medication to his son until the bill is settled.

“My son still requires medication but he can no longer receive it unless the money is paid,” he added.

Mr Ouma, a retired civil servant, pleaded with well-wishers to enable the last born son return home for medical care in Kenyan hospitals.

“I appeal to well-wishers to contribute funds my son comes back to Kenya so that we can take him to any of our facilities. I am financially challenged,” said Mr Ouma.