In response to a viral video depicting the mistreatment of an expectant mother, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has dissolved the management board of Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital and announced the appointment of a new board. The incident has sparked outrage and renewed concerns over medical negligence at the facility, which has faced previous allegations of maternal and fetal deaths.
Dr. Bernard Gituma has been named as the new Medical Superintendent, while the outgoing superintendent, Dr. Emma Mutio, will be transferred to Pumwani Hospital. The revamped board will be chaired by Ms. Dorcas Kemunto, with Dr. Gituma serving as Board Secretary. Additional members include Christopher Githinji, Jennifer Mumbua Mutunga, Susan Wanjiru Kamau, Yvonne Peris Alera Makokha, Ronald Ngala Oniango, and Fridah Wambui Nduati.
The video that triggered the changes surfaced on social media, showing a pregnant woman in distress lying on the ground outside the hospital gate. Bystanders can be heard pleading for the gate to be opened and for medical staff to assist the woman.
According to a statement from the Nairobi County Executive Committee, the 26-year-old patient arrived at the hospital on April 15, reporting lower abdominal pain and an absence of regular baby movements. An ultrasound confirmed the tragic news that the baby had already passed away. The woman subsequently gave birth to a stillborn baby boy, who medical staff determined had died two to three days prior.
The statement acknowledged that “she could have been handled better,” emphasizing the hospital’s responsibility to provide proper care. Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris described the incident as a “technical hitch” and called on Governor Sakaja to improve healthcare systems, emphasizing that maternal health is a fundamental right that must not be compromised.