Kenyans may soon access emergency medical treatment without upfront payments, following a new bill moved by Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina. The Health (Amendment) Bill aims to make it mandatory for hospitals to provide urgent care before requiring any payment, addressing the challenge of patients being denied treatment or bodies detained over unpaid bills.

• The bill proposes a Ksh3 million fine for public healthcare facilities demanding prepayment for emergency treatment.
• It seeks to make it an offense for public healthcare facilities to detain bodies over outstanding medical bills, with a fine of up to Ksh2 million for officers approving such detentions.
• Njeri Maina cited Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) having 262 unclaimed bodies recently, with an additional 124 in June 2025 alone.