Vanessa Ogema, the woman caught on CCTV causing chaos inside Port Victoria Hospital in Busia County, has turned herself into the police.
The incident, which occurred on January 3, 2023, gained widespread attention after a viral video circulated on social media, showing Ms Ogema verbally abusing hospital staff and accusing them of laxity.
Nairobi News understands that she avoided having her image captured during the surrender. Ms Ogema concealed her identity with a hood as she surrendered at the Busia Police Station on Sunday, January 7, 2024.
Busia County police boss, Mr John Lekuta, confirmed that Ms Ogema is currently undergoing questioning regarding the incident. “She is currently being grilled by the police over the matter,” Mr Lekuta stated.
The distressing incident prompted the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) to take action, with the withdrawal of nurses and the suspension of all operations at the Level Four Hospital in Budalangi.
The disruption of hospital services raised concerns about the impact on patient care in the region.
“There is no healthcare worker in the country who goes to work to either mistreat, hinder, or refuse to offer services. We are trained to save lives, and we will not allow anyone to march to any health facility and mistreat assault, and insult our healthcare workers, be it a son of the President, Minister, Governor, or any other leader,” Seth Panyako the KNUN Secretary-General said.
In response to the controversy, Sports and Culture Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba distanced himself from Ms Ogema’s actions in an official statement posted on his Instagram page.
Namwamba condemned the behaviour, emphasising that it contradicts his values and commitment to public service.
“I want to directly address the recent discussions surrounding my name. The actions associated with me do not align with my values or commitment to public service. I unequivocally condemn any behavior against principles of integrity,” Namwamba stated.
Namwamba assured the public that a thorough investigation into the incident is underway and pledged to take decisive actions to rectify any wrongdoing.
“I am thoroughly investigating these allegations and will take decisive actions to rectify any wrongdoing. My commitment to serving you remains unwavering, and I am dedicated to rebuilding trust through transparency and corrective measures. Thank you for your understanding during this challenging time,” he added.
The incident attracted condemnation from various bodies in the Health sector even as it emerged that Ms Ogema was also a Health student and worker.
Kenya Medical Practitioners and Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Davji Atellah also condemned the incident as he said that legal action should be taken against the woman.
“This is rudimentary, illegal, and immoral. The attitude and action by politicians and their cronies to threaten healthcare workers at their place of work should be curtailed,” he said.
The Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) equally condemned Ms Ogema’s actions.
“The Board and Management joins our Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health in condemning the actions displayed by Ms Vanessa Ogema observing that the behavior violated the institutions core values and an organizational culture that the hospital Board, Management and staff are keen to uphold all the time,” said Prof Olive Mugenda who is the KUTRRH Board of Directors Chairperson.
