More than 100 new mothers are currently detained at the Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital in Nairobi after being unable to pay their delivery bills — a situation that has sparked public outrage and reignited debate about access to affordable maternal healthcare in Kenya.
Most of the detained mothers are teenagers from low-income areas such as Kayole, while at least two women are foreign nationals from Uganda and Tanzania. The mothers say they are being held days — and in some cases, weeks — after being discharged, as they struggle to raise the required hospital fees.
“I came to help my friend after she gave birth. She was discharged over a month ago but could not leave because she owed the hospital money,” said Diana Odhiambo, a resident of Kayole.
She added that despite raising Ksh. 4,000 from neighbors to help settle part of the bill, the hospital’s social work department declined to release her friend, saying the amount was insufficient.
Other mothers who spoke to Citizen Digital on phone said their bills range between Ksh. 30,000 and Ksh. 100,000, depending on complications during childbirth. Two women from Uganda and Tanzania said they have no relatives in Kenya and no means to settle the debt.
“I have been here for three weeks now. I want to go home, but the bill keeps growing because I’m still being fed and accommodated here,” one of the mothers lamented.
Responding to the mounting criticism, Fredrick Obwanda, the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, defended the facility’s position, saying the hospital is struggling with mounting unpaid bills that threaten its sustainability.
“We attend to over 3,000 patients daily. If everyone walked out without paying, the hospital would collapse,” Obwanda explained. “We have genuine cases that deserve compassion, but some patients simply refuse to register for the Social Health Authority (SHA), which would have covered their costs.”
He revealed that the hospital loses approximately Ksh. 2 million per day in waived bills, translating to over Ksh. 10 million per week, warning that continued losses could paralyze operations.
“We are not a profit-making entity, but we must remain operational. Our plea to Kenyans is simple — register under the SHA so that such cases are reduced,” he added.
The Social Health Authority (SHA), which replaced the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) earlier in 2025, is designed to ensure all Kenyans have access to affordable health coverage. However, many citizens, especially in informal settlements, have yet to register due to lack of awareness or difficulty accessing registration centers.
Health rights advocates argue that the government must do more to ensure smooth implementation of the new health insurance scheme.
“It’s inhumane to detain patients over bills. Health care is a constitutional right,” said Dr. Miriam Oduor, a public health policy expert. “Instead of punishing poor mothers, the government should fast-track SHA enrollment and strengthen social safety nets.”
This is not the first time Kenyan hospitals have come under fire for detaining patients over unpaid bills. Similar incidents have been reported at Pumwani Maternity Hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital, and several county facilities over the past decade.
In 2018, the High Court ruled that detaining patients over unpaid bills is illegal and unconstitutional. However, enforcement of that ruling remains inconsistent, with many public hospitals citing inadequate government funding.
At Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, staff members say the situation is worsening due to the high cost of medical supplies and the increasing number of indigent patients seeking maternity care.
“Every day we see mothers who can’t even afford basic items like diapers. We want to help, but our hands are tied,” said a nurse who requested anonymity.
For now, the stranded women continue to wait — some with their newborns cradled in their arms, others gazing out of hospital windows hoping for a miracle or the intervention of well-wishers.
Civil society groups have begun mobilizing support online, calling on the Nairobi County Government and the Ministry of Health to step in and waive the mothers’ bills.
“No mother should be jailed for giving life,” read a post shared widely on X (formerly Twitter) under the hashtag #FreeMamaLucyMothers.
As the debate continues, the situation at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital remains a painful reminder of Kenya’s widening healthcare inequality — and the urgent need for a system that doesn’t punish poverty.
