'Fake' doctor arrested at hospital where he has worked for 2 weeks

33-year-old George Mburu who has been masquerading as a doctor at Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital (PGH) before he was arrested by police assisted by health officers and taken to Show Ground Police Post on June 13,2016.According to the hospital clinical officer Joseph Kiprotich the suspect has been treating patients at the hospital for the past two weeks. (PHOTO:KIPSANG JOSEPH/ STANDARD)

A man has been arrested for allegedly posing as a doctor and clinical officer.

George Mburu, 33, has been treating patients at the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital for the past two weeks.

Joseph Kiprotich Keriyo, the clinical officer in charge, said the hospital administration received numerous complaints from patients that doctors in the outpatient and casualty wards were forcing them to pay for services prior to receiving services.

"While doing routine supervisory work I came across a man treating patients at the outpatient section while fully dressed in a doctor's uniform and from my recollection, I did not know him," said Mr Keriyo.

He said he alerted security and Mr Mburu was arrested. Keriyo said on interrogation, Mburu, who identified himself as 'Geovarious Njuguna' said he was a nurse. But after further grilling, he changed his story and said he was a community health worker.

Mburu claimed he was a volunteer health worker. His details were not in the hospital data base.

Keriyo said the suspect did not have anything to identify himself as a health-care worker. Keriyo was unable to explain how someone could masquerade as a doctor in the facility for two weeks undetected.

Patients said Mburu has been forcing them to pay for services, including blood samples.

"Nobody is allowed to pay money to a doctor or a nurse in the wards without being issued with payment vouchers," Keriyo said.

Mburu also revealed to officers that he had served as a volunteer at Kitale District Hospital before moving to Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital.

Police said it was unfortunate that quacks had been taking advantage of the capacity of the hospital to pose as medics.

In November last year, Directorate of Criminal Investigation officers arrested a woman who had been issuing fake employment letters to desperate youths at the hospital.

Naomi Nyamongo, whose case is pending in a Nakuru court, is alleged to have posed as a doctor at the facility.

Ms Nyamongo, who was spotted several times at the facility dressed in full nurse uniform, allegedly conned three youths and issued them with fake appointment letters to various health facilities within the county.

The suspect collected more than Sh20,000 from each victim, money she claimed was to cater for uniforms and accommodation. Some Sh7,200 was for accommodation.

Mburu is being grilled by police officers at the Agricultural Show Ground police post and will be arraigned in court and charged with impersonating as a health worker.

Three alleged imposters have been arrested at the Rift Valley Provincial Hospital in a span of two years. The hospital serves patients from Bomet, Kericho, Baringo, Laikipia, Nakuru and Nyandarua.