Juma was one of the 50 doctors sent to the Caribbean country to study Family Medicine
Governor Joho visited the family, condoles with them and promises support
The family of the Kenyan doctor who died in Cuba wants an independent postmortem carried out.
Dr Ali Juma, younger brother of Likoni MP Mishi Mboko, allegedly committed suicide on Sunday. His friends said he was depressed after unsuccessful attempts to return home. His eight-month-old child had been sick.
On Monday, Health CS Sicily Kariuki and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho issued a joint press statement, asking Kenyans to stop speculating about the cause of Juma's death.
“The circumstances resulting in the death are not clear yet. Investigations by the Cuban authorities are ongoing. As we wait for a police report, we urge and request Kenyans to be sensitive to the grieving family and refrain from discussing the case on social or regular media,” the statement read.
Juma was one of the 50 medics sent to the Caribbean country to study Family Medicine — a two-year programme that started last year.
His family is waiting for his body. Juma will be buried at his family home in Shika Adabu, Likoni, Mombasa.
Yesterday, Kurichwa Hamisi, Juma's elder brother, told the Star that they expect the body to arrive today at 6.45am. The body left Cuba, via Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on board a Kenya Airways plane.
“The body will arrive in the morning. We shall then carry out our own independent postmortem before the burial. He will be buried after Friday’s Juma Prayers — 1pm,” he said.
On Wednesday, Governor Joho visited the family, condoled with them and promised support.
“We stand with the family, relatives and friends during this time as we wait for the arrival of the body for the final rites and burial,” he said.
The national government sent a team of experts to Cuba to investigate the death.
Sicily said the team, led by Health Chief Administrative Secretary Rashid Aman, will come back in the next five days with a comprehensive report. She said the circumstances surrounding Juma's death had only been reported in the media and it would be unfair to assume it was true without finding out.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union, however, raised concerns over the poor living conditions the doctors are subjected to in Cuba.
KMPDU Coast branch secretary general Abidan Mwachi urged the national government to cancel the programme and recall the remaining doctors.
“Since they left for Cuba, our colleagues have been complaining of the poor living standards in Cuba. They are forced to share houses, travel for long distance and spend about two to three hours to reach their places of work,” he said.
He accused the government of inaction after the KMPDU lodged the complaints. The programme is not adding any value to Kenya, Mwachi said.
“This programme is just dubious ... The same things that they are being taught in Cuba, they can learn here in Kenya. The government should now bring back the remaining 49 doctors before things become worse,” he said.