Papa Shirandula’s widow accuses Karen Hospital of negligence

By SHABAN MAKOKHA

The wife of actor Charles Bukeko, popularly known as Papa Shirandula, has accused the Karen Hospital of negligence.

Beatrice Andega, while speaking at her husband’s funeral on Monday morning, said the facility’s alleged negligence may have led to his death.

She told mourners that hospital staff dragged their feet in attending to her husband when she took him for treatment on Saturday, the fateful day.

“They didn’t consider his condition an emergency and he died while we were at the waiting bay,” she said.

“When he went to hospital, he requested for three tests of malaria, pneumonia and Covid-19 but the hospital concentrated only on Covid and ignored the rest,” Ms Andega added.

Meanwhile, his father Cosmas Bukeko has denied that the actor died from Covid-19 complications.

He said the family requires further explanation from the hospital on the events of the day his son died.

“For now l cannot say anything about his illness until we sit with the hospital. I’ll travel to Nairobi and together with his wife, we shall engage a lawyer to get proper information from the hospital,” he said.

Papa Shirandula’s father, Cosmas Bukeko Wafula, addresses mourners on July 20, 2020. PHOTO | ISAAC WALE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Valaria Makokha, mother to the late Papa Shirandula, addresses mourners. PHOTO | ISAAC WALE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Mourners follow the funeral through the home’s fence. PHOTO | ISAAC WALE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Vigilant police officers keep watch as people are locked outside the home where the service is taking place. PHOTO | ISAAC WALE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

The body of Papa Shirandula was laid to rest at 8:45am after the brief burial ceremony.

Shortly after, people were asked to leave the homestead.