Shocking footage circulating on social media has reignited public outrage over the deteriorating conditions at the Margaret Kenyatta Mother and Baby Unit at Nakuru Level 5 Hospital, where newborns are allegedly placed on cold floors and multiple mothers are forced to share single beds.
Investigations have revealed that the 250-bed maternity wing is consistently overwhelmed beyond capacity, with mothers sleeping in shifts and others left on the floor due to an acute shortage of beds. One mother, identified only as Velyn to protect her identity, told journalists: “Sometimes four people share one bed, while others sleep on the floor. You just use some of your clothes and a leso to sleep, because there are no bedsheets and mattresses.”
The maternity wing currently lacks dedicated ICU beds, forcing emergency cases to be transferred to general ward ICU beds located approximately 300 metres away. The paediatric unit, which requires 12 medical officers, is currently operating with only six, and the hospital as a whole needs at least 300 additional nurses, according to health sector observers.
Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja Keroche has petitioned the Senate for a comprehensive audit of the hospital following a surge in maternal and infant deaths.