The Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) has announced that private hospitals across the country will provide free emergency medical services within the first 24 hours during the Saba Saba commemoration.
Kenyans are expected to take to the streets on Monday, July 7, 2025, to commemorate Saba Saba — a day that marks the historic 1990 protests against the late President Daniel Moi’s regime, during which demonstrators called for the reintroduction of multiparty politics.
RUPHA chairman Dr. Brian Lishenga announced that private hospitals will offer free emergency services during the commemorative day while maintaining that emergency care is a constitutional right and must be provided to all individuals in need.
He called on private hospitals to provide ambulances to support referrals for patients who may require specialised care.
Further, the RUPHA chairman noted that under the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, the Social Health Authority (SHA) has assured hospitals of compensation for services offered.
“Anyone injured during the protests will receive care within the first 24 hours, as stipulated in the Constitution,” he said.
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Those who will sustain injuries, including pregnant mothers in need of deliveries, are among those to receive care.
Private hospitals to offer free emergency services on Saba Saba- RUPHA
Emergency services will be delivered from hospital facilities, with the Kenya Medical Association (KMA) establishing field treatment posts to support those in need.
Dr. Lishenga expressed optimism that serious injuries would be avoided and called for calm from both members of the public and security forces.
“In the past, protestors, healthcare workers and even security personnel have been injured or maimed during demonstrations,” he observed.
“We hope there will be no casualties, and that both the public and police will act with restraint and show respect for life and property.”
He also appealed to police officers to ensure that medical teams deployed on the ground remain safe, emphasizing that healthcare workers should be allowed to perform their duties without interference during the commemorative events.
At the same time, he voiced fears over the safety of health workers, especially in Nairobi, pointing to past incidents where patients were arrested while receiving treatment and tear gas and live bullets were fired into hospitals.
“Such actions undermine the sanctity of healthcare spaces. We hope this does not happen again,” he warned.
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Dr. Lishenga further urged police not to obstruct ambulances and vehicles transporting patients to medical facilities, cautioning that blocking roads and medical transport could lead to fatalities and worsen the conditions of those needing urgent care.
Saba Saba
Meanwhile, today’s Saba Saba commemorations have seen major roadblocks, stranded travelers, bonfires, arrests, teargas, and restricted access to the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD), with police cordoning off key roads and blocking entry.
The demonstrations which were to reflect deep frustration over governance, police brutality, and abductions, spared heavy security deployment and disruptions across the city.
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