The Karen Hospital has come under public scrutiny for charging exorbitant amounts for boys’ circumcision.
For the better part of Tuesday, December 6, a poster did rounds on social media, showing the hefty cost that parents will part with in order for their children to undergo the simple surgical procedure at the formerly highly rated medical facility.
According to the poster, male circumcision under local anaesthesia will cost Sh40,000 while the same procedure under general anaesthesia will set you back Sh50,000.
Interestingly, this bill is exclusive of doctors’ consultations, bed charges, discharge medication, supplements or any other extra procedures resulting from the surgery.
By evening, the poster had gone viral as netizens took turns in expressing their disbelief at the preposterous charges, which seem to be grossly inflated.
“Circumcision used to be 400 bob and even before people had breakfast, you would be back home.
Now they are even doing circumcision admissions and charging it the same price as a CS,” one Kenyan wrote, sparking a myriad of other reactions.
Circumcision used to be 400 bob and even before people had breakfast, you would be back home….now they are even doing circumcision admissions and charging it same price as a CS 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/2r04Q8eefT
— Ohta Ryota 🇸🇬 (@Ohta_Ryota) December 6, 2022
circumcision should actually be free if we are being honest… what @_KarenHospital is demanding 50k is day light robbery
— Sir-Rap-A-Lot (@Osama_otero) December 6, 2022
Man, it’s no longer a rite of passage..Hii ni money minting scheme.
— Maracha™ (@MunduWaThuku) December 6, 2022
Nakumbuka tuliraushwa mapema mimi na bro on a Sunday morning.
Kuenda living room we see a weird looking man.
Long story short, tulilalishwa kwa meza, tukapigwa injection kwa diek na tukachinjwa chap chap.
By the time the sun was rising, tulikuwa tushakuwa ‘men’— Roxieale Njuguna (@roxieale) December 6, 2022
Under anesthesia? Shiet, future masculinity is going bonkers, real fast.
— Psychedelic Syndicate (@DaltoN_________) December 6, 2022
I never even once saw any of my brothers after the event. I would know when food would be taken to then by the older ones. I think they were taken at 5am and back before I woke up.
— Mso (@MsoMuthoni) December 6, 2022
Alafu unashundwa mbona boychild ako soft. Smh. Waamshwe mapema waende Kwa Mto. Khasia
— G (@MbitoGee) December 6, 2022
Weuh?
Too many questions, and above all wtf would you get the cut under anesthesia! Whips za kibe zikuje Sasa.— vienna (@kagiri_kiuna) December 6, 2022
We’re raising marinated men, who every weekend they’re flocking at KFC and all joints that buy funny funny foods and sodas
— Willy Wallah (@WillyOgega1) December 6, 2022
We paid 500/- in 2005. Kitu rahisi sana. Unaenda 5km mguu na unarudi mguu, na maisha inaendelea. It is a big business now.
— NyeriWarrior (@Martoniki1990) December 6, 2022
For 15+ years you can go to Mbagathi Hospital VMMC department and get it done for free.
— Shishi (@shishi_wm) December 6, 2022
Niliacha ikiwa jogoo moja. A 15-second public surgery and we’re done.
— Paul Onana (@ckukumwenyewe) December 6, 2022
This latest development comes as the 102-bed multi-specialty complex located along the Karen – Langata Road in Nairobi faces major financial struggles.
Just recently, the hospital announced impending staff layoffs set to affect dozens of their employees.
The Head of the Human Resource Department, Mr. Geoffrey M. Murugu, delivered the upsetting news during a mandatory Zoom call held on 23rd November 2022.
He said that the meeting would serve as an official notice of the “staff rationalization” process aimed at reducing employees by up to 30 per cent.
They were further informed to expect dismissal letters starting on 23rd December 2022.
