More than a hundred new mothers are stranded at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital in Nairobi, days after giving birth, following their inability to clear medical bills. Most of the detained women are teenage mothers from Kayole, while two others are reportedly from Uganda and Tanzania.
According to a report, the women say the charges are far beyond their reach, leaving them trapped in the hospital despite being discharged.
The hospital, however, says it is caught between compassion and sustainability, blaming the situation partly on poor financial planning and the failure by patients to register with the Social Health Authority, which would have covered their medical costs.
Hospital CEO Frederick Obwanda said the facility handles about 3,000 patients daily, making it impossible to waive all bills. He warned that consistent non-payment could cripple operations, noting the hospital loses over KSh 2 million a day when bills are written off.
Obwanda added that some patients bypass lower-level facilities and seek care directly at Mama Lucy, burdening the hospital’s limited resources.
“If we hemorrhage financially like this, the institution will not survive,” he said, urging citizens to register for the government’s new health insurance plan.
Meanwhile, the stranded mothers, many with newborns in their arms, continue to rely on the hospital for food and accommodation as they await clearance.
The scene has reignited debate on whether hospitals should detain patients over unpaid bills, exposing once again the fragile balance between healthcare access and financial viability in Kenya’s public hospitals.
