The footage has caused a lot of anger across Kenya, with many people questioning the police's actions and the government’s handling of health issues.
Grace Njoki was part of a group of people who went to the Ministry of Health on January 15, 2025, to speak out about problems with the country’s health system, especially the SHA (Social Health Access) program, which they say isn’t working well.
She was protesting for better healthcare services when she was arrested for allegedly causing a disturbance.
However, it wasn’t just her protest that upset people. What really angered many was how she was arrested – she was dragged out of a hospital while she was seeking medical help. This has raised serious concerns about human rights and the misuse of police power.
The police said that they tracked her down and arrested her near Hombe Road, off Juja Road, and took her to Upper Hill Police Station. Even though she was sick and in the hospital, she was taken to jail, which has made people even more upset.
The video of her arrest quickly went viral on social media, showing Njoki being escorted by many police officers, some even wearing riot gear, to a police vehicle.
Watch the video below:
CCTV footage exposes how police dramatically arrested Grace Njoki and dragged her out of Ladnan Hospital pic.twitter.com/fZZxrZeEwh
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) January 24, 2025
People on Twitter reacted with disbelief and anger. Some of the comments are below:
Many have criticized the police’s actions. One user, Johnnybrian111, wrote, “People are getting arrested for speaking the truth and protesting, but the real wrongdoers are left to boast and intimidate us on live TV. Our system is broken.”
Another, Clinton Ogoro, accused the government of not caring about human life and failing to fix the country’s health services.
Other comments pointed out that the police used way too many resources. Mtema Kuni said, “It’s a waste of resources... a sick woman is being handled by an entire police station, including traffic cops in riot gear.”
Antony Alexanderia Irungu added, “It’s disgusting to drag a patient from the hospital to jail. Her only crime was asking for better healthcare.”
Groups like the Kenya Medical Association, the Law Society of Kenya, and the Police Reforms Working Group have also spoken out against Njoki's treatment.
They said that it’s not a crime to demand better health services and that patients should not be punished for speaking up. They called for the immediate release of Njoki and for her charges to be dropped.
Njoki was later freed on a Ksh. 10,000 police bail, but her lawyer said the police were still unsure of the charges against her.
Civil rights groups and medical associations have called for her charges to be dropped and for patients to have the right to protest without being arrested or intimidated.
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