Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) has discharged all teenage mothers who were reported to be stuck at the facility over unpaid bills and delays in Social Health Authority (SHA) registration.
The move comes after media reports including stories by Daily Nation, Citizen TV, and viral TikTok videos alleged that the young mothers had been detained at the hospital.
MTRH initially dismissed those claims but confirmed on Sunday, September 22, that the mothers had since been released.
According to the hospital, the women were already in the process of being discharged when the reports surfaced.
The Hospital Credit and Evaluation Committee also stepped in to review cases where the mothers lacked the documents needed for SHA registration.
“Those who were unable to present the necessary documents, such as IDs or birth certificates, had their cases reviewed and cleared by the committee,” the hospital said in a statement.
The issue came to light after Daily Nation reported on September 18 that the facility was overcrowded, with patients sharing beds, being served poor meals, and new mothers unable to leave due to unpaid SHA premiums or pending registration.
MTRH CEO Dr. Philip Kirwa denied claims that mothers were being unlawfully detained, insisting they were receiving proper care.
He explained that those without IDs were given temporary documents to help them register with SHA and avoid unnecessary delays.
“Congestion may occur when patients have not completed SHA enrolment, but we continue to work closely with the Ministry of Health to ease the process,” Dr. Kirwa said in an earlier statement.
The hospital also rejected claims that patients were being served leftovers, saying all meals and services met required standards.
Kirwa, however, admitted that the facility is sometimes overwhelmed by patients who could otherwise be treated at smaller health centres.
The controversy comes at a time when hospitals across the country are clashing with government over delayed SHA payments.
On Sunday, the Rural & Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) directed private hospitals to start demanding cash payments from SHA patients beginning Monday, September 22, citing financial strain from unsettled claims.
