AAR Hospital: Betty Bayo Was Admitted, Claims of Being Turned Away Are False

AAR Hospital has denied allegations that it refused to treat gospel musician Betty Bayo, saying reports suggesting she was turned away over a deposit are incorrect.

The dispute began after fellow gospel artist Mary Wanjiru, known as Shiru wa GP, described the final hours of her friend. She said Betty, despite being seriously ill, walked to her car and alerted neighbours before being taken to AAR Hospital on Kiambu Road. According to Shiru, staff asked for a Sh260,000 deposit before treatment began. She said she paid the amount via M-Pesa and went to the hospital, where she found Betty in severe condition.

Shiru’s account was widely shared and prompted questions about whether the alleged delay conflicted with Article 43(2) of Kenya’s Constitution, which states that no one may be denied emergency medical treatment. For a patient said to need an urgent blood transfusion, critics argued, the request for upfront payment appeared inconsistent with that obligation.

In a statement, AAR Hospital rejected the claims. The hospital said Betty was admitted for two days, received emergency and critical care, and was diagnosed during her stay. It added that after initial stabilisation, the patient and her family chose to transfer her to another facility for specialised treatment. The hospital declined to release further clinical information, citing medical ethics, but said it remained committed to professional and transparent care.

Shiru said the charges increased quickly, rising by Sh200,000 within two hours. Betty was later moved to Kenyatta National Hospital, where her condition worsened. Shiru said Betty could no longer speak but recognised her children and cried when she saw them. She explained that the cancer had already advanced beyond treatment.

Betty Bayo died on Monday from acute myeloid leukaemia. She will be buried on 20 November at Mugumo Estate on Kiambu Road, following a memorial service on 16 November at Christian Foundation Fellowship Church.