A viral video showing new mothers allegedly detained at Thika Level 5 Hospital for failing to clear maternity charges has sparked public outrage and renewed debate over Kenya’s struggling health financing system.
The video, widely shared on social media, shows distressed women claiming they have been held for two to three months in hospital wards because they cannot pay their medical bills.
“We are suffering as mothers. We have children at home, yet we are stuck here because we cannot pay,” one mother lamented in the video.
This incident comes barely a week after patients at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret shared similar stories of being detained over unpaid medical bills, raising questions about access to maternal care across Kenya.
The revelations have intensified scrutiny on Kenya’s Social Health Authority (SHA) benefits package, which was meant to provide free maternity services.
Health experts warn that gaps in the system are leaving vulnerable women trapped in hospitals.
“Politicians tell Kenyans that hospital care is free.
But if you haven’t paid your SHA premiums, your costs will not be covered,” said Kenya Medical Association (KMA) Chairperson Dr. Simon Kigondu.
Principal Secretary for Public Health Mary Muthoni defended the government, insisting that support programs exist for mothers who cannot pay.
“If a patient has been referred and is unable to pay, the government has programs to support indigent mothers. Leaders, including MPs and counties, also have a responsibility to ensure such women are assisted,” she said.
On paper, Kenya’s Primary Care Network guarantees free antenatal, postnatal, and delivery services. In practice, however, hospitals still require proof of SHA contribution, leaving many women uncovered—especially in emergencies such as caesarean deliveries that come with higher costs.
The Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) Act directs Parliament to allocate funds for poor and vulnerable citizens, with national and county governments tasked to pay for their health cover. But implementation has lagged, leaving hospitals without adequate funding to support disadvantaged mothers.
Experts warn that unless SHA benefits are aligned with the actual cost of care, more women will continue to face detention after delivery, a practice they say violates human dignity and exposes deep cracks in Kenya’s health system.
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