Dr. Dan Gikonyo was part of the medical team that provided care to an unconscious Rev. Timothy Njoya at Nairobi Hospital following his brutal beating during protests in 1999.
He also rendered medical assistance to Prof. Wangari Maathai after she was attacked by State agents in 1992, 1996, and 1999, during which she suffered head injuries from assaults by gangs while advocating for the preservation of Karura Forest.
Additionally, Dr. Gikonyo treated Koigi Wamwere, who fell ill while in detention and was subsequently admitted to Nairobi Hospital in 1996.
He was also responsible for the care of Kenneth Matiba, being among the first to discover in 1991 that the detainee was experiencing cerebral hemorrhaging.
Another notable government critic under his care was Charles Rubia, who developed respiratory issues while incarcerated.
In his book, Doctor at Heart, Dr. Gikonyo reflects on the courage required for a physician to provide treatment to individuals opposing the government.
“There was prevailing fear among doctors with regard to attending to people who were seen to be against the dreadful Moi administration. The political climate was hostile, and colleague surgeons were a bit apprehensive of carrying out the surgery on the opposition hero (Rubia).
“‘What if something goes wrong accidentally and he dies? People will say we were compromised by the state to eliminate him,’ one surgeon told me’,” he writes in his book.
Dr. Gikonyo stated during the book launch that he intentionally aligned himself with the anti-government faction.
“I’ve always chosen to stand with the truth; to stand with honest people and to stand with what is right. It happened to be at a time people are choosing what is right, what is wrong, who is truthful, who is not. I chose the side of truth and the side of honour.
“I attended to many heroes of the Second Liberation. When I went to see Rubia in detention, my friends were telling me I would not come back. But there comes a time we have to choose between honesty, truth and other sides of that coin,” he writes.
Dr. Gikonyo participated in the inaugural Saba Saba rally in 1990 and subsequently became a lifelong member of the Democratic Party, chaired by Mwai Kibaki.
He recounts the “privilege” of providing assistance to Prof. Maathai during her assault by security personnel, characterizing the 1999 incident in Karura as a “near-death” experience.
In relation to Wamwere, Dr. Gikonyo illustrates the determination of a mother who tirelessly fought for her son’s liberation.
“I met Koigi when he became sick while in detention and was later admitted to Nairobi Hospital in 1996. Confined to a room in Lady Macmillan Ward with over eight guards at every shift, he requested me to attend to him.
“I felt sad as I passed his mother, Monica Wangu Wamwere, who was pained by her son’s suffering and had vowed to camp at the hospital’s corridors where she sat and slept to pressure for justice for her son,” he wrote.
The announcement of Matiba’s release from detention was made in a 1 PM bulletin, reflecting the Moi administration’s intention to preserve its reputation.
It had become evident that Matiba had been incarcerated while suffering from a serious illness.
“He had suffered a stroke while in detention and taken three days for him to be brought to hospital,” he added..
Matiba was evaluated by an expert who recommended that he be freed immediately. Dr Gikonyo took that report to the police.
“We did not wait for long. During the 1 PM news bulletin that Sunday, it was announced that Matiba had been released from prison,” he stated.
Rubia, a critic of the government, was also released following a 1 PM announcement regarding Dr. Gikonyo’s intervention, which revealed a growth in his lung.
Dr. Gikonyo submitted the report to the police, leading to the announcement of Rubia’s release during the 1 PM bulletin.
He expresses a sense of pride when stating that his reports “secured the release of Rubia, Matiba, and Wamwere.”
Dr. Gikonyo spent two decades at Nairobi Hospital before establishing Karen Hospital, which he founded alongside his wife, Betty.
