During the impeachment-related hearing of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at Milimani Law Court, Dr. Dan K. Gikonyo, a senior Kenyan cardiologist and physician, told the court that he received a phone call from President Dr. William Ruto regarding the verification of Gachagua’s medical condition.
Dr. Gikonyo made the disclosure while testifying on medical assessments presented in court during the proceedings.
Dr. Dan K. Gikonyo, a senior Kenyan cardiologist and physician, appeared before the Milimani Law Courts during the Gachagua impeachment case as a witness on May 13 and blamed interns in court after inconsistencies were flagged in Gachagua’s medical records.
The court proceedings centered on disputed entries in medical records presented as part of the case. Dr. Gikonyo was called to clarify the differences between recorded times and dates in hospital documentation and the explanations provided in his affidavit.
Further, the session focused on the discharge summary submitted as part of the evidence bundle. Dr. Gikonyo informed the court that the discharge summary in question was initially prepared by a medical intern, Dr. Sarita, in accordance with routine hospital practice.
He stated that medical documentation is commonly drafted by interns, medical officers, or registrars as part of training and clinical workflow.
“We have medical interns, we have medical registrars, we have junior consultants, we have senior consultants, and the typing of the discharge summary is done by either the medical officer, the registrar, or the intern. In this one, it was done by Dr. Sarita, but the consultant overreads what has been seen there and signs. So, it was prepared by Sarita but signed by me, Dr. Danikonyo,” he said.
Court Examines Discrepancies in Admission and Discharge Records in Gachagua Case Testimony
The court examined inconsistencies between the time the patient was reportedly first seen and the official admission time recorded in hospital systems.
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Dr. Gikonyo told the court that there is a distinction between clinical review time and formal admission time, noting that admission records are finalized after administrative processes, including verification of insurance details and payment arrangements, are completed.
The court also examined conflicting discharge dates appearing in the affidavit and hospital records. Dr. Gikonyo explained that discharge is determined not solely by clinical assessment but also by administrative clearance.
He stated that patients may be clinically discharged but remain in the system until all financial obligations are settled, referring to such cases as “open bills.” Further questioning addressed the meaning of follow-up instructions contained in the discharge summary.
“You must pay before you are discharged. Even if you have been discharged by the doctor and you haven’t gone home and your honour paid your bill, you are technically not discharged. We call it an open bill. It’s when you come and clear all your bills and everything else that you are technically financially discharged from hospital,” Dr. Gikonyo stated.
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Dr. Gikonyo clarified that follow-up refers to ongoing medical review after discharge as part of standard patient management.
