Gospel artiste, Marakwet Daughter, detained in hospital over Sh115,000 bill

Marakwet gospel artist Millicent Jerotich (Marakwet Daughter) at Kapsowar Mission Hospital where she has been detained over an unpaid Sh115,000 bill. [Christopher Kipsang, Standard]

A Marakwet gospel artiste who was involved in a road accident is unable to raise her medical bill of Sh115,000.

Millicent Jerotich, known by her stage name ‘Marakwet Daughter’, is still at Kapsowar Mission Hospital after undergoing an operation.

Jerotich suffered a tendon injury in the accident on the meandering Chesoi-Maron road in Elgeyo Marakwet County on Sunday last week. She was discharged on Thursday, four days after her admission to the facility, but she is yet to leave after failing to pay the bill.

On Monday, Jerotich said she was unable to raise the money required for the hospital to release her.

Jerotich, who sings in the Marakwet dialect, is known for songs such as Berur (blessings), Boiboiyet (happiness) and Tororot (God), among others.

“I was discharged on Thursday, but the hospital said I can’t go home unless I pay the bill. I pleaded with the hospital to release me so that I can pay the bill in installments in vain,” Jerotich said.

Gospel artiste, Millicent Jerotich, better known by her stage name 'Marakwet Daughter'. [Courtesy]

She said most people, including the officials at the facility, think she has money to clear the bill.

“People think I am a famous gospel artiste who can easily raise money to pay the hospital bill, but I don’t have it. They see you performing and think you have money,” she told The Standard from her hospital bed.

She said she was ready to nurse the tendon injury at home if allowed to pay the bill in instalments.

Jerotich said she does not blame the hospital for the detention, noting “I am the one who is unable to pay for their services”.

The artiste was travelling from Kapchebau African Inland Church where she had attended the launch of a gospel album. The Toyota Probox she was travelling in veered off the road at Karemit area near Tuturung trading centre and rolled severally, landing in a gulley.

Also on board the ill-fated vehicle was David Serem, an AIC pastor from Kapsabet, Nandi County.

“It was by God’s grace that we survived the accident. The vehicle rolled several times in a steep slope,” Jerotich said.

Kapsowar Mission Hospital administrator Stanley Mutwol declined to respond to our calls and SMSs over the issue.

But another official who requested not to be named said the artiste had been asked to pay Sh85,000 of the Sh115,000 and clear the balance later.