The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has started an investigation at a certain private hospital in Nairobi over distressing allegations of medical negligence in which an eight-month-old child is alleged to have lost a finger during a routine procedure.
Medical Negligence Lawsuits in Response to 8-Month-Old’s Amputated Finger
According to the child’s mother, the incident occurred in September at a health facility in Umoja II, where she had taken the child for an injection that was to be done for three consecutive days.
As per her description of the event, their visit turned tragic when a nurse was seen picking up a pair of scissors and starting to cut around her ribs as she was engrossed in holding the baby.
“I was engaged with my child until shocked by her scream,” the mom explained. “Then, when I saw, blood was dripping, and the bandage was on the floor with no finger.”
According to her, the nurse immediately called the doctor, and the doctor stitched the injured finger without anaesthesia and wrapped the finger with a bandage.
The mother was rushed to the clinic for help, but the situation went from bad to worse a few days later. The mother came back to the clinic five days later with the report that the finger of the baby was starting to rot.
The doctors at the facility reportedly advised a cut to amputate the finger to prevent the spread of the infection to the other fingers.
“When we went back, the finger had already begun to putrify, and they said they should amputate the finger before it infects the others,” she said.
The matter has caused an outcry on the subject of medical malpractice, especially at some of the facilities situated in the estates of the city of Nairobi.
The doctor who was alleged to have been involved in these scandals has rejected claims, saying that there was already a case before the courts, and that a demand letter had been replied to which was later proven to be untrue.
“Those are allegations that we hear from social media. We believe they were brought to court and we received a demand letter, which we responded to,” he added.
Nevertheless, the baby’s mother complained that those she holds responsible for this incident continue to carry out their practices as if nothing has happened despite the severity of the injury sustained by her baby.
This case has also been likened to a previous instance that sparked public concern over medical malpractice.
On New Year’s Day, 2026, 27-year-old Amos Isoka of Kawangware lost his life following a tooth extraction procedure conducted at an unlicensed medical facility. The medical practitioner allegedly demanded Sh1,000 and downplayed his swelling on the neck, tongue, and chest as “normal.”
Isoka was shortly thereafter rushed to the Kenyatta National Hospital, where a diagnosis of a case of Ludwig’s Angina was made. An autopsy confirmed that Isoka had indeed died from sepsis due to the spreading infection.
As KMPDU presses on in its inquiry concerning the baby’s case, the rising number of complains highlights again medical negligence and its consequences when care is poorly provided or when appropriate measures are not taken for its provision and its impact.
