The Pretender: Unmasking the Fraudulent Medic
A Nairobi businessman has been charged at a Nairobi court for carrying out a medical practice while unregistered with the Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union contrary to the law.
James Waweru Njenga who operates a facility known as Axis Medical Clinic and Lab Services situated at Kayole Phase 1 in Nairobi, within Nairobi county carried out medical practices in the name of Dr. James Njenga while not being registered to carry out the practice.
The prosecution told the court that while he pretended to be a doctor, he attended one Alex Munene Ngoki on November 9, 2023, knowing he was not qualified as a doctor.
Njenga further presented himself to be a doctor to Alice Wanjiru Wanjiku while in the said medical facility on March 30, 2024, a false fact.
He was also faced with four counts of forgery and uttering false documents contrary to section 349 of the penal code aiming to defraud.
On December 19, 2023, in Nairobi county within the republic of Kenya, with intent to defraud forged a medical laboratory report namely CT Scan Abdomen- Pelvis purporting it to be a genuine medical report dated December 19, 2023, issued by German Medical Center Limited Imaging department for a patient known as Alex Munene Ngoki.
Knowingly and fraudulently he uttered the same document to Alex Munene pretending it to be genuine.
The court also heard that on November 10, 2023, Nairobi county forged a medical laboratory blood test report purporting it to be a genuine laboratory report dated on the mentioned date issued by Marter Misericodiae Hospital for patient Alex Munene Ngoki, and went on to utter the same report to him pretending to be a genuine laboratory blood test report.
He appeared before the Milimani Principal Magistrate Gilbert Shikwe where he denied the alleged charges against him.
The defence lawyer pleaded with the court for leniency stating that he is the first time offender,
“Your honor I plead my client be granted lenient bond terms and I can assure this court that he will abide with the rules by the court,” he pleaded.
The lawyer also stated that the accused is a family man and the sole breadwinner of his family.
He further added that Njenga is not a flight risk and he will appear for trials whenever required.
Mr Shikwe released him on a bond of Sh 1 million with a surety of the same amount or alternative cash bail of Sh 500,000 with one contact person.
The matter will be mentioned on April 26, 2024, for pre-trial and directions.