A couple from Kajiado County is going through a painful ordeal after their one-year-old son was mistakenly admitted to a private hospital in Eastleigh, Nairobi, despite having been referred to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) for specialized care.
The heartbreaking turn of events began when the baby, who had initially gone for a routine surgical procedure, experienced complications at a local hospital in Kajiado.
During the procedure, the surgeon allegedly asked the parents to pay Ksh5,000 for a catheter, claiming the hospital lacked some essential medical supplies.
Following the operation, the child reportedly received an overdose of anaesthesia. His heart stopped twice, pushing him into a coma. The medical team then made the decision to refer him to KNH for intensive care.
To enable the transfer, the hospital asked the mother to raise Ksh50,000, which she managed to borrow. But instead of being taken to Kenyatta National Hospital, the ambulance carrying the baby diverted and delivered him to a private clinic in Eastleigh.
To make matters worse, the hospital in Eastleigh refused to allow the distressed parents to see their child, who had now been placed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
They were told they could only see the baby after clearing the rising medical bills, which continued to spiral out of control.
What followed was shocking mistreatment. The parents say they were physically assaulted for simply demanding to see their child.
In a disturbing video clip that has since surfaced, a hospital administrator is seen slapping the baby’s mother, while the father was reportedly beaten up for asking similar questions.
Speaking to Citizen TV, the surgeon who handled the procedure in Kajiado defended himself, claiming he had informed the mother about the catheter fee. He insisted the cost was necessary because the hospital lacked the required supplies.
Both hospitals have now shifted blame. The superintendent of the Kajiado hospital claimed he had no control over where the ambulance took the child.
Meanwhile, the CEO of the Eastleigh private hospital said they were a fully accredited facility and any concerns should be taken up with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC).
Now, the desperate parents are pleading with the Ministry of Health to step in and ensure their son is transferred to Kenyatta National Hospital as was originally planned.
Their story highlights the urgent need for accountability in Kenya’s health system, especially when vulnerable patients are left at the mercy of unregulated decisions and face emotional, physical, and financial trauma in the process.
Join Gen Z New WhatsApp Channel To Stay Updated On time https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
