This is the story of one of Kenya's first Clinical Officers who was detained for helping Mau Mau soldiers to acquire medicines. He would help Mau Mau dressers (those who were dressing wounds inflicted on the fighters) to circumvent regulations that prohibited the sale of pharmaceuticals to "terrorists." To acquire medicines, colonial health regulations required that drugs only be released on the strength of a signature of qualified, approved medical practitioner. Although he had not taken the oath, Ruthiru, who sympathised with the Mau Mau movement, rose to the occasion. For his troubles, he was detained in the notorious prisons of Manyani (Where he was prison Number Two, with prisoner Number One being Peter Muigai Kenyatta, Mzee Kenyatta's first-born son) and Mwea. He got his freedom when he used his medical training to save Mwea prison inmates and staff from consuming a cow that was infested with the deadly Anthrax. Initially trained as a practitioner nurse in Jeans School, Kabete, in Nairobi, he later qualified as a Clinical Officer. Ruthiru practiced medicine until his retirement. He passed on early this year (2023).
23 сен 2023
