George Mulei, son of Grace Njoki Mulei, has expressed deep concern over his mother’s health condition after the 61-year-old woman, was taken into custody on the evening of January 23, 2025, while seeking treatment at Landnan Hospital in Eastleigh, Nairobi.
Her arrest comes days after she participated in a protest at Afya House on January 15, 2025, where she and other patients interrupted a press conference held by the Ministry of Health.
They were protesting against the systemic failures of the Social Health Authority (SHA) at Kenyatta National Hospital, which had left many patients stranded.
In a media interview on January 23, 2025, George appealed for his mother’s release, citing her serious heart condition and the potential trauma that could arise from her arrest.
“What is really concerning is that my mum is hypertensive, diabetic, and has a heart condition. So basically even the trauma this event is having on her as we speak, I don’t even know her state right now. It’s really making me worried,” George said.
He claimed that his mother’s arrest was violent, and given her medical condition, she was manhandled during the incident.
“I just want my mum safe; I just want my mum released, for us to be told the charges. The way they manhandled her, we have seen the footage…these people were really violent,” George said.
Describing his final phone call with Grace before her arrest, George said that officers had refused to disclose the reasons for her detention.
“My mum called me at around 4 pm screaming telling me that they are people claiming to be DCI officers who are just telling her to go with them. They didn’t say what the charges were, I asked one of them—since my mum had her phone on loudspeaker—what the charges were. They just kept insisting she comes with them,” George recounted.
George reiterated his plea for his mother’s release, arguing that her actions at Afya House were simply her standing up for her rights.
“My concern is my mum has a serious heart condition. This is also in her medical records. We’re extremely worried about her current state. She was just a concerned citizen fighting for her rights,” he added.
Mulei’s family lawyer, Johnstone Daniel addressed the media on January 23, 2025, describing Grace’s arrest as inhumane. He noted that she had been at the hospital to schedule knee surgery.
“This is a lady who was coming here to schedule an operation on her leg tomorrow. She was having a consultation with her doctor today to confirm the same. It is beyond humanity to think that officers will step in… with a contingent of upwards of 12 to 15 officers over charges which could not amount to six months,” he lamented.
Reason for Grace Mulei’s arrest
In a statement released on the same day of her arrest, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) confirmed the arrest, stating it was due to her causing a disturbance.
They announced that Grace would be arraigned in court on January 24, 2025.
“A suspect has been arrested following reports of a disturbance at the Ministry of Health Boardroom at the Capital Hill Police Station. The suspect, Grace Njoki Mulei, was tracked down to Hombe Road, off Juja Road, and successfully apprehended. She has been taken to Capital Hill Police Station, where she will remain in custody until her court appearance scheduled for tomorrow,” DCI stated.
Public outcry
Following her arrest, there was a significant public outcry.
A joint statement released on January 24, 2025, by the Kenya Medical Association, the Law Society of Kenya, the Police Reforms Working Group, Amnesty International Kenya, and others condemned the arrest, labelling it a gross violation of Grace Mulei’s rights.
“Advocating for improved public health services is not a crime. It is a civic duty to ensure life-saving health services for a healthier and more equitable society,” part of the statement read.
The coalition called for Mulei’s immediate release and the dropping of all charges against her.
