The Nakuru County Government denied reports that babies were in detention at the Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital (NCRTH) over unpaid bills, describing the reports as “wholly false and misleading.”
The county clarified, in a statement from the Department of Health Services, that the Standard newspaper report misreported the case at the facility.
According to the county, the hospital had earlier finished a pediatric surgery camp held from September 1 to 5, 2025.
The exercise, carried out in partnership with the State Department of Health, invited surgeons from Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), Tenwek Hospital, and Kajiado County Referral Hospital to reduce a backlog of children awaiting specialized surgery.
Successful Surgeries and Discharges
During the camp:
112 children were operated upon.
81 children were discharged from Thursday to Saturday.
31 children are still under observation and will be discharged from Sunday to Monday.
The county made sure that no child was left behind and that all the treatment and care were fully funded by the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Why Children Remained in Hospital
Health authorities explained that the patients who underwent big operations must be monitored for at least 72 hours, in line with Ministry of Health policy.
“Although some parents may have believed their children were healthy enough to be released earlier, such medical policies are non-negotiable as they ensure a smooth recovery,” the statement went on to say.
Kids who had undergone surgery earlier in the week were discharged after the necessary period, and those who had had surgery later were scheduled to depart the weekend.
The county appealed to the public to disregard the false news and instead appreciate the work of the medical teams who “worked tirelessly to restore children’s health and dignity.”
Nakuru County renewed its commitment to providing safe, quality, and caring healthcare to patients from the whole region.
