A noble paediatric surgical camp at Nakuru Level Five Hospital, intended to alleviate suffering for 132 children, has tragically turned into a nightmare for both the minors and their parents. Following successful surgeries, these families found themselves detained at the facility, victims of the Social Health Authority's (SHA) inefficiencies and failure to clear payment claims.

The surgical camp, held from September 1 to September 5, was a collaborative effort between Nakuru Level Five Hospital and the State Department of Health, bringing in specialized paediatric surgeons from Kenya National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Tenwek, and Kajiado County Referral. Its purpose was to address a significant backlog of cases for children under five requiring specialized surgery, with official records indicating 132 children underwent operations.

This distressing situation unfolds against a backdrop of broader payment controversies within the health ministry, as Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale had, on August 25, 2025, denied claims that the ministry had paid nonexistent hospitals within the SHA system. However, the immediate crisis at Nakuru Level Five Hospital stemmed from SHA's specific failure to clear the medical bills for the surgical camp patients, leading directly to their detention.

The confinement took a heavy toll on the families. Children lost patience due to the prolonged stay, unable to maneuver freely, and many missed school. The sheer number of patients also led to severe overcrowding, forcing the hospital to admit children to adult wards to accommodate them.

The plight of the detained patients gained public attention following an expose by the *Saturday Standard*, a sister publication, and a subsequent story aired on KTN. This media intervention prompted the Nakuru Level 5 Hospital to expedite the release of the patients. By Saturday, a spot check revealed that 81 out of the 132 children who underwent congenital surgeries had been discharged.

Parents recounted their experiences, with one mother noting that releases began only after the media coverage. She expressed confusion over the hospital's discharge criteria, observing that some patients admitted on the same day were released while her son, operated on Wednesday, was told he would be discharged on Monday. She attributed some of the inconveniences to delays in patient registration by the facility itself.

Adding to the confusion were conflicting statements from officials. The County Executive Committee, Health Roselyn Mungai, acknowledged the high volume of paediatric surgical cases and the camp's purpose. However, she claimed that 112 children underwent surgery, a figure that contradicts the 132 seen in records by *The Standard*. Furthermore, Mungai alleged that SHA covered the medical bills for the camp, a claim vehemently disputed by patients who reported being asked to pay an additional Sh4,500 to the hospital.