Seven mothers detained at Nyamira County’s Masaba South Hospital over bills

At least seven mothers, including five students, are being held at Masaba South Level Five Hospital in Keroka, Nyamira County, due to unpaid medical bills. Some of the detained individuals have been at the hospital for more than two months, as hospital staff persistently urge them to settle their bills before being released. Among those still at the facility are two high school students and three teenage mothers whose pregnancies have disrupted their plans to attend university this month.

The women have described the emotional struggle they face in trying to raise the required money for their medical bills after giving birth, but have remained in hiding due to the sensitive nature of their situation. Many of the mothers lack the necessary documentation and resources to register for the Social Health Authority (SHA), leaving them vulnerable to accumulating medical bills.

For the high school students, their detention has further hindered their pursuit of education, as they are now dependent on relatives who are also struggling to gather the required Sh30,000 to cover their hospital expenses. Despite their hardships, the teenage mothers remain hopeful of returning to school and continuing their education after being released.

One of the students, who is preparing for her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams, expressed concern over the time she is losing to the hospital while she should be focusing on her studies. The students acknowledge the hospital's financial obligations but question how families with limited or no income can afford to pay thousands of shillings while dealing with the challenges of childbirth.

Nyamira County Executive Committee Member for Health, Donald Mogoi, has promised to investigate the issue, urging residents to enroll in the SHA scheme to help alleviate the financial burden of medical treatment.