Nairobi, September – Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has confirmed the death of the fifth and final surviving baby from a set of quintuplets born at Thika Level Five Hospital in Kiambu County.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, KNH Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Joel Lassan said all five newborns had died despite efforts by medical teams to provide specialised neonatal care.
The babies were transferred to KNH on September 13, shortly after their birth, due to their extremely premature condition and critically low birth weights. They were born at approximately 25 weeks, with each weighing between 600 and 800 grammes.
The quintuplets, comprising four girls and one boy, were delivered naturally by 28-year-old Mercy Kanini, a resident of Juja. The delivery was initially celebrated as a rare occurrence, with the family describing the birth as a blessing.
According to KNH, its multidisciplinary neonatal team, including neonatologists, nurses and other healthcare professionals, provided intensive care and made every effort to support the newborns.
The hospital expressed deep sadness over the deaths and extended its condolences to Kanini and her family, acknowledging the profound pain of losing all five babies.
The family had earlier appealed for financial assistance to help meet the costs associated with the newborns’ care.
