Patmoz
By Njeri Irungu
Nairobi, Kenya | July 5, 2025
Patients detained at St. Mary’s Hospital in Nairobi due to unpaid medical bills are receiving a lifeline, following the launch of a new Hospital Support Fund by gaming firm Bangbet Kenya.
The fund, unveiled on Friday during a ceremony at Lord Erroll Gardens, is part of the company’s new corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaign dubbed Changing Lives – Powered by Bangbet. The initiative aims to assist patients who have been medically cleared but remain confined due to financial hardship.
Bangbet’s initial contribution of Ksh 1 million will go toward settling hospital bills for patients unable to pay, many of them new mothers and accident victims. Hospital administrators say the situation has become increasingly common amid rising healthcare costs and limited access to insurance among low-income earners.
“This intervention comes at a time of great need,” said Sister Dr. Rose Nafula, CEO of St. Mary’s Hospital. “These are not just bills. They represent people whose lives are on hold — people who are healthy enough to go home but cannot leave.”
St. Mary’s Hospital, located in Nairobi’s Lang’ata area, serves thousands of patients each year, many of them from informal settlements. Staff say the phenomenon of “detained patients” — those held back due to unpaid fees — has placed strain on both personnel and facilities.
A senior nurse who spoke on condition of anonymity described the emotional toll of the situation. “We do everything to treat the patient and restore their health. But then we have to watch them remain stuck here simply because of a bill. It’s demoralizing.”
Bangbet CEO David Gichuchi, speaking at the event, said the fund reflects the company’s intent to move beyond short-term philanthropy and into long-term social impact.
“We’ve been in the wards. We’ve spoken to families,” Gichuchi said. “This is not a one-off gesture. It is a deliberate step toward supporting Kenyans in moments of real vulnerability.”
The fund was established in partnership with the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), which endorsed the initiative as a model of ethical engagement in the betting industry.
BCLB Chairperson Rev. Dr. Jane Mwikali Makau praised the effort as both regulatory-compliant and socially responsive.
“This is exactly the kind of responsible CSR we want to see — impactful, accountable, and free of promotional gimmicks,” she said. “It proves that gaming firms can contribute to public welfare in a meaningful and transparent manner.”
The issue of detained patients — sometimes labeled “hospital arrest” — is a longstanding concern in Kenya’s healthcare system. Though the practice is unofficial, many hospitals are reluctant to discharge patients whose bills remain unpaid, citing financial constraints and the absence of effective government reimbursement schemes.
Bangbet’s donation, while modest in scope, is expected to help free up beds and ease congestion in critical care areas. Hospital administrators say the support will also improve staff morale and patient flow.
In addition to the medical fund, Bangbet used the event to recognize several individuals as Friends of Bangbet, gifting items such as motorcycles and household equipment as part of its broader economic empowerment strategy. However, organizers emphasized that the hospital initiative remained the core focus of the day.
“This is not about publicity,” said a St. Mary’s administrator. “It’s about results — patients returning home, families being reunited, and space being created for the next case in need.”
Bangbet indicated it plans to expand the initiative to other hospitals across the country in coming months.
Shadrack Nyakoe
