Humiliated, Handed Sh1,000 and Sent Away: Furious Residents Return Nathif Jama’s Money, Accuse Governor of Arrogance and Inhumane Treatment of Sick Woman

A growing public backlash has engulfed Garissa Governor Nathif Jama after a viral video showed him handing Sh1,000 to a visibly sick woman before directing her elsewhere for treatment, a gesture that many Kenyans have condemned as humiliating, dismissive and unbefitting a public leader.

What began as outrage over a 21-second clip has now evolved into a symbolic revolt, with residents and social media users reportedly sending Sh1,000 back to the governor through M-Pesa in protest against what they describe as arrogance and a shocking lack of empathy toward a vulnerable citizen seeking help.

Screenshots circulating online show multiple transactions of Sh1,000 sent to a phone number associated with the governor. The transactions have become a powerful expression of anger from members of the public who say the issue is not the money itself, but the manner in which the woman was treated.

In the now-viral video, the woman approaches the governor seeking assistance. Nathif is seen handing her a Sh1,000 note and telling her to seek treatment from a private doctor, saying there was “no SHA issue” to discuss.

To many viewers, the exchange appeared less like assistance and more like a public dismissal of a struggling woman whose plight deserved compassion and meaningful intervention.

The video struck a nerve across the country, reigniting frustrations over the state of healthcare services and the widening gap between political leaders and ordinary citizens.

“This was not help. This was humiliation,” one social media user wrote as screenshots of the returned Sh1,000 payments spread across Facebook, X and WhatsApp groups.

Others questioned how a county chief responsible for healthcare services could appear to brush aside a sick resident while simultaneously dismissing concerns surrounding the Social Health Authority (SHA), a programme designed to ensure Kenyans can access affordable healthcare.

The controversy quickly attracted political attention.

Lagdera MP Abdikadir Hussein accused the governor of unfairly blaming SHA for failures that fall under county governments. Speaking at a public function, the legislator noted that Garissa County had received billions of shillings through healthcare funding streams and argued that questions should instead be directed at the quality of services available in county facilities.

“If people are not receiving services despite the resources available, then leadership must be held accountable,” he said.

East African Legislative Assembly MP Falhado Iman also weighed in, questioning the county government’s efforts to educate residents about SHA and ensure they can access healthcare benefits.

The criticism has intensified pressure on Nathif, whose administration has sought to dismiss the controversy as a politically motivated attack.

Officials close to the governor argue that the viral clip was selectively edited and stripped of context. They claim Nathif has previously assisted the woman and that the Sh1,000 was intended to facilitate her travel to seek medical care rather than cover treatment costs.

According to county officials, political rivals have weaponised a brief interaction to portray the governor in the worst possible light.

But those explanations have failed to stem the public outrage.

The sight of residents voluntarily returning Sh1,000 to the governor has transformed the controversy into something larger than a single viral moment. It has become a referendum on the state of public healthcare and growing public frustration with leaders perceived to be offering handouts instead of solutions.

For many Kenyans, the incident reflects a troubling reality where vulnerable citizens must still appeal directly to politicians for help despite years of promises about universal healthcare and improved county services.

The symbolism of the Sh1,000 refunds has resonated widely. By sending the money back, residents appear to be making a simple but powerful statement: dignity cannot be bought, and healthcare should not depend on the generosity of politicians.

As the backlash continues to grow, the controversy threatens to become one of the most damaging political crises of Nathif’s tenure.

What may have been intended as a routine act of assistance has instead become a national conversation about leadership, compassion and accountability.

And for many watching the drama unfold online, the question is no longer whether Sh1,000 was enough. It is whether a leader entrusted with the welfare of thousands should ever have treated a sick and vulnerable woman in a manner that so many Kenyans have found deeply humiliating.