A health facility in Kahawa Wendani, Kiambu County, is facing possible closure after a woman in labour was allegedly turned away and later gave birth just metres from the facility.
The incident sparked public outrage after a video showing the woman being denied access to maternity services circulated widely online.
According to the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), the woman had gone to the facility seeking urgent medical assistance but was reportedly advised to seek care elsewhere.
The facility later explained that its available clinician was attending to another patient at the time and that the woman was directed to a nearby health facility.
She subsequently delivered outside the facility before being taken to another hospital, where she received emergency and post-delivery care. The mother and baby were reported to be safe.
KMPDC Director General David Kariuki said investigations had established that the facility is registered as a Level 3B health centre, meaning it should have the capacity to provide emergency stabilisation services.
Kariuki said the council had therefore earmarked the facility for closure over the incident.
“We have confirmed that this facility is registered as a Level 3B that should have the capacity to provide emergency stabilisation services, and due to that reason, the facility has already been earmarked for closure,” Kariuki said.
He stressed that registered health facilities have an obligation to provide emergency care and stabilise patients, even where they may not have the capacity to offer specialised or definitive treatment.
“Every registered health facility in this country must be able to provide emergency services to stabilise a patient even where they do not have capacity to provide treatment that is definitive for the patient’s needs,” he added.
The incident has renewed concerns over the treatment of patients seeking emergency care and the responsibility of health facilities to respond to critical cases, particularly during childbirth.
