The promise of life-saving medical treatment for a 10-month-old girl has been overshadowed by a bureaucratic dispute involving the Social Health Authority (SHA). The story of Chloe Agnes Nyango, who was born with a congenital heart defect, has captured the attention of the nation, exposing what her family claims is a shocking and devastating failure in the healthcare system.
Chloe’s journey began with a diagnosis that required specialized surgery that could not be performed in Kenya. Under the guidance of Dr. Esther Kimani, a pediatric cardiologist, she was referred to Miot Hospital in Chennai, India. The total estimated cost for the surgery and travel expenses was 1.8 million shillings. Chloe’s father, Boniface, a faithful contributor to the national health scheme for 16 years, did everything he was supposed to do. He sought help from the Ministry of Health and the SHA, and after a review of the documents, the SHA committed to covering 500,000 shillings of the cost.
With the hope of official support, the family fundraised the remaining 1.125 million shillings, paid the hospital, and traveled to India, believing that the SHA would honor its commitment. But upon arrival, their hope turned to despair. According to Boniface, the SHA performed a shocking U-turn, refusing to pay the promised 500,000 shillings. This left the family stranded and desperate, forcing Boniface to get a loan by transferring his friend's car logbook and scrambling to cover the costs, including a five-day overstay at the hospital.
When the Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale was contacted for an explanation, the response only deepened the mystery. The CS stated that there is a legal procedure for foreign treatment approval under SHA and claimed that the key document presented to him, which approved the patient for treatment abroad, was "fake." This accusation, however, raises a critical question about the integrity of the SHA's own process, as investigations have highlighted that this was the very same document the authority had used to approve the family's claim initially. The SHA CEO has so far declined to comment on the matter.
Boniface, who is now back in Kenya, is pleading with the authorities to pay the promised 500,000 shillings along with the penalties he incurred. His story is a powerful reminder of the human cost of bureaucratic failures and raises serious questions about the reliability and accountability of the national health scheme. The case of Baby Chloe is a call for transparency, justice, and a system that puts the well-being of its citizens above all else.
