Ayimba: Uhuru Pledges KSh 1 Million to go Towards Medical Expenses of Ailing Rugby Legend

Ayimba: Uhuru Pledges KSh 1 Million to go Towards Medical Expenses of Ailing Rugby Legend

Rene Otinga
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:49 PM

- Ayimba’s hospital bill currently stands at KSh 2.3 million

- The rugby legend’s family appealed to the public to help raise the funds after insurance was exhausted

- Nairobi senator Johnson Sakaja has since revealed the president is set to contribute KSh 1 million to help settle his bill

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Nairobi senator Johnson Sakaja led Kenyans in a funds drive for ailing rugby legend Benjamin Ayimba.

Ayimba: Uhuru Pledges KSh 1 Million to go Towards Medical Expenses of Ailing Rugby Legend
On Friday, Ayimba’s family made an appeal for financial help to settle his medical bill that currently stands at Ksh. 2million.. Photo: Shujaa.
Source: Getty Images

As was reported by TUKO.co.ke, Ayimba is currently admitted in HDU at a Nairobi hospital, and can hardly speak or recognise anyone.

He was admitted three weeks ago at Avenue Healthcare Hospital.

The rugby icon needs specialised treatment. His family on Friday, April 9, made an appeal to the public to help settle his medical bill, which at the time stood at KSh 2 million.

Kenyans on Twitter, including popular sports journalist Carol Radull pushed for a fundraiser for Ayimba, with the news reaching President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Sakaja took to Twitter on Saturday to disclose that Uhuru had pledged KSh 1 million which will go towards the legend’s hospital bill.

“Let’s keep at it #TurnUpforBenja. Thank you H.E Uhuru for the KES 1m. Kindly @RailaOdinga @WilliamsRuto @MusaliaMudavadi join in,” Sakaja tweeted.

Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) recently revealed Ayimba’s condition had “deteriorated rapidly” and well wishers were urged to send their contributions via the Paybill number 8021673 with the name BENJAMIN OTIENO AYIMBA MEDICAL.

According to family spokesperson Oscar Osir, Ayimba's bill needs to be settled before he can be transferred for further treatment.

"His admission at Kenyatta National Hospital will require funds. The family thought they would manage the bills but they have been unable to,” said Osir.
“I told them Ayimba is a public figure and they shouldn’t keep quiet when they are facing challenges.”

Ayimba is a former Kenya Sevens and 15s captain, who was first appointed Shujaa Head coach in 2006.

He went on to guide Kenya to her first ever World Series Cup Final in Adelaide, Australia losing 26-7 to South Africa.

In 2011, he left the job under controversial circumstances after he openly opposed the fielding of Kenya’s main players at the Safaricom Sevens.

He was recently appointed technical director for the newly formed Kenya Rugby League (KRL) in June 2020 and had served for only a few months before his ailment got the better of him.

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Authors
Rene Otinga photo
Rene Otinga
Rene Otinga is a sports journalist with over eight years of working experience in digital media. Rene's experience includes working as a Copywriter at X News Kenya and TUKO.co.ke.
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