A Nairobi watchman is fighting for his life in hospital after he was reportedly stabbed by suspected thieves on his way to work, leaving his family drowning in a mounting medical bill they cannot pay
Stephen Otieno Oloo left his home in Mathare at around 5 am, walking to his place of work because he lacked the fare.
Stephen Oloo’s Condition
As he passed near Muthaiga Police Station, he was allegedly set upon by attackers who stabbed him and threw him onto the tarmac before stealing his phone and fleeing. The incident was subsequently reported at Muthaiga Police Station.
Three days after the attack, Oloo remains admitted at Westlands Specialist Hospital with serious spinal cord injuries.
His treatment costs have reportedly surpassed KSh 200,000, a figure his family has been unable to raise.
To make matters worse, the family says the facility does not accept SHA, the national health scheme, leaving them to shoulder the full financial burden.
Family Appeals for Help
The family has expressed a desire to move him to a different hospital, but the facility has reportedly insisted on full settlement of the outstanding bill before any transfer can be authorised.
Their attempts to find an alternative have also run into a wall, with Kenyatta National Hospital said to have no available bed space.
The weight of the situation has taken a visible toll on those closest to Oloo, especially his mother, who expressed her grief at watching her son suffer with no means to help him.
The family is now reaching out to well-wishers, medical institutions and anyone in a position to assist, whether with funding his treatment or helping to arrange a transfer to a facility that can accommodate his care under more manageable terms.
Oloo’s story is one that many low-income Nairobi workers will find painfully familiar: the daily gamble of walking long distances before dawn, in areas where safety cannot be guaranteed, simply because the cost of a matatu is beyond reach.
A single violent encounter has now placed his life and his family’s financial stability in jeopardy.
Anyone with information on how the distressed family can be assisted is encouraged to reach out and help.
