Nairobi, November 3- Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has come to the rescue of more than 100 mothers detained at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital’s maternity ward over unpaid delivery fees.
According to reports, many of the women, some with infants only a few days old, had been stuck at the facility for weeks because they couldn’t afford their bills.
At around 3 a.m. on Sunday, Sonko arrived at the hospital unexpectedly, wearing a hoodie to keep a low profile. Inside the packed ward, he found women sharing beds, some with their babies wrapped in thin sheets, waiting for help.
“I saw the story on TV about mothers being held for unpaid bills. Later, a doctor named Mbole reached out asking me to assist. I waited two days to see if something would be done, but when nothing changed, I decided to come myself,” Sonko said.
He asked each woman to note her pending bill ranging between KSh 5,000 and KSh 100,000 then deposited KSh 1.6 million directly into the hospital’s Equity Bank account.
“Many of these mothers lacked National Health Insurance (SHA) coverage. Unfortunately, it can’t be applied retroactively. I felt compelled to help because no woman should suffer after giving birth,” he explained.
Sonko criticized both the hospital and the Nairobi County Government for failing to help the mothers register for insurance in advance, insisting it should have been the government’s responsibility. He also cautioned that overcrowding in the maternity ward could cause further health risks.
“There are no free hospital services, but we all understand how difficult life is right now. The County should have ensured SHA registration before admission or asked for payment upfront. That could have avoided this crisis,” he added.
In the days leading up to his visit, women’s rights groups and community activists had been protesting outside the hospital, demanding the County’s intervention and the release of the detained mothers.
“The situation was desperate,” said one activist. “Some mothers were even sharing beds with their babies. We pleaded for help, and Sonko finally answered.”
Sonko said he had also organized transport and essentials for the mothers, arranging four minibuses to take them home by Monday noon.
For the women finally leaving the hospital with their newborns, the gesture meant more than financial relief it restored their dignity, hope, and humanity.
