By KPC Reporter
Kenyenya Subcounty Hospital in Kisii County has once again been thrust into the spotlight after yet another mother died during childbirth on Friday.
The death of Nyaboke Ezekiel who had gone to the hospital for delivery has sparked public outrage over maternal safety and systemic failures in the county’s health system.
The tragedy, which follows a string of similar incidents at the health facility, has sparked blame, counter‑blame, and calls for accountability at the highest levels.
According to Dr. Richard Okware, County Director of Health, the mother arrived at Kenyenya Hospital at around 11 p.m. in labour.
“Health workers did their best and in the morning staff handed her over to daytime staff but at around 9am she became restless and the facility in charge called for an ambulance for emergency intervention,” Dr. Okware said.
“In the process of waiting for the ambulance she passed on.”
Dr. Okware was accompanied by Chief Officer Ronald Nyakweba and Dr Oimeke Mariita, the CEO of Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital (KTRH) during a briefing to journalists.
He indicated that there was “some fracas in the hospital” and assured the public that investigations would be carried out, adding: “We are sorry to the family.”
However, according to Nyakweba, the hospital was stormed by unidentified individuals as medics fought hard to save the mother’s life.
“When I received a call I rushed to Kenyenya and what happened was unacceptable as people came from nowhere and started to beat the medics,” Nyakweba said.
“Some of the medics have been hospitalised. Even myself and my team were beaten.”
He claimed that medics did their best but goons came and started beating them thus compromising the assistance of the mother, and called for thorough investigations.
The incident has triggered strong reactions from political leaders with Senator Essy Okenyuri Nyaituga issuing a statement condemning the hospital’s failures and urging systemic reforms.
“I am deeply appalled by the unfortunate incident at Kenyenya Sub‑County Hospital where a mother, Nyaboke Ezekiel, who had journeyed to bring forth life painfully lost her life together with that of her unborn child,” Okenyuri said in a statement.
“Such a loss is not only heartbreaking but also profoundly disturbing. I call upon the investigative agencies to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident so that justice is served to the deceased and family.”
Okenyuri urged the Ministry of Health to strengthen maternal healthcare systems and guarantee safety for mothers.
Dr. Enock Ondari, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, also weighed in, describing the deaths as preventable and symptomatic of systemic neglect.
In his statement, he lamented “glaring deficiencies in emergency obstetric preparedness, breakdown of referral systems, and a non‑functional ambulance service within the county.”
Dr. Ondari who is a gubernatorial aspirant demanded urgent restoration of emergency services, suspension of senior health officials to allow impartial investigations, and a public audit of the ambulance system.
“We cannot normalize preventable maternal deaths. We must restore urgency, professionalism, and humanity in our health system,” Ondari declared.
This is not the first time Kenyenya Subcounty Hospital has hit the headlines for tragic maternal deaths.
Just last year, another mother died at the facility under similar circumstances, sparking protests and accusations of negligence.
The hospital has also been linked to cases of delayed referrals and inadequate emergency response, with families alleging that lives were lost due to lack of functional ambulances and poor staffing.
In one widely reported case, relatives accused the hospital of failing to act swiftly, leading to the death of both mother and child.
Chronic shortages of staff, demoralization among frontline workers, broken equipment, and unreliable ambulance services have turned manageable obstetric emergencies into death sentences, according to residents.
Dr. Ondari’s statement underscored this reality: “Healthcare professionals cannot perform miracles without tools, support, and functional systems.”
The fracas that followed Friday’s death further illustrates the breakdown of trust between the public and health institutions.
Instead of rallying around medics, sections of the community turned on them, worsening the crisis and leaving several healthcare workers injured if Nyakweba’s claims can be substantiated.
Nyakweba’s account of being beaten alongside his team highlights the volatile mix of grief, anger, and mistrust now engulfing Kenyenya.
Okenyuri called for deliberate measures to safeguard mothers and unborn babies, while Dr. Ondari insisted on accountability and systemic overhaul.