Gospel musician and vernacular artist Karangu Muraya is under fire after revealing that the body of his friend has been detained for over a month due to an outstanding hospital bill of Ksh 270,000.
In a post shared on June 18, Muraya said the original bill at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) stood at Ksh 700,000.
The Social Health Authority (SHA) covered Ksh 300,000, and family and friends managed to raise an additional Ksh 100,000.
“I’m feeling so shameful that the body of my friend Sam from Gatanga has been lying in the morgue for the last one month just because of the hospital bill of 270,000,” Muraya wrote.
“My friends, please let’s help this family to lay their son to rest.”
Muraya also appealed to the hospital to release Sam’s body, pleading for compassion and public help.
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He shared contact details for Sam’s sister, Angelica Njeri Kimani, encouraging donations from well-wishers.
Karangu Muraya Faces Backlash
However, his plea triggered sharp criticism online. Kenyans have questioned Muraya’s influence and connections, especially in the wake of his recent affiliation with the government and his role.
“You said SHA cleared bill for your brother, why this?” wrote Fraciah Mwangi.
“Again, your wife said you’re rich.”
Others like Empress Kemunto and Ndotch Ndegwa criticized him for not leveraging his access to senior officials, including Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
“You are SHA ambassador you can wave the bill, Kindiki can clear it with one call,” Kemunto commented.
“This post says it all,” added Ndegwa.
“The likes of Kindiki and Sudi are only around when it benefits them. There was a time you’d raise funds in minutes, but right now people do not listen to you.”
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Affiliation with the Govt
The backlash comes in part from Muraya’s public praise of SHA just weeks earlier.
On May 23, he joined fellow Kikuyu musicians Samidoh and Ngaruiya Junior at Kindiki’s Karen residence for a discussion on government support for the arts.
At the event, Muraya recounted how SHA came through after paying Ksh 460,000 for his brother’s hospital bill at Karira Mission Hospital.
“Information is power,” he said then. “Sometimes we see the government trying to say things are working, but the ground does not listen.”
Kenyans on Facebook are now pointing to the contradiction, accusing Muraya of promoting a system that isn’t delivering when most needed.
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