The Senate Health Committee has launched an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the birth and subsequent deaths of five infants delivered at Thika Level 5 Hospital last month, as lawmakers seek to establish whether gaps in maternal and neonatal care contributed to the tragedy.
A 28-year-old mother from Juja, Kiambu County, is said to have given birth to the quintuplets, four girls and a boy, on September 13 at approximately 25 weeks of gestation. The infants reportedly weighed between 630 and 800 grams each at birth. They were subsequently referred to Kenyatta National Hospital for specialised neonatal care, where officials say all five died in the days that followed.
The committee, chaired by Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago, said the inquiry is meant to establish the facts of the case rather than assign blame prematurely. Members were categorical that the process should “not prejudge negligence or individual responsibility” ahead of a full review of the evidence, a caution that reflects the sensitivity of a case that has drawn public concern over the state of high-risk pregnancy management in public hospitals.
Senators are reportedly seeking comprehensive documentation from the hospital and health authorities, including when the quintuple pregnancy was first identified, whether the mother ought to have been referred to a better-equipped facility ahead of delivery, whether staffing levels on the day were adequate, what resuscitation measures were attempted for each infant, whether critical equipment was functioning as required, and whether the referral and ambulance transfer to Kenyatta National Hospital met safety standards.
Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi is said to be among the county officials expected to respond to the committee’s queries, alongside management at Thika Level 5 Hospital, which was reportedly summoned but did not appear before the committee at a hearing held on Thursday. It remains unclear when hospital officials are expected to appear before senators.
The committee has indicated it wants a corrective-action plan addressing any weaknesses identified in the management of high-risk pregnancies and neonatal care within the county health system, with a view to preventing similar outcomes in future.
The case has reignited concern over the capacity of county-level hospitals to manage complex, high-risk deliveries, and whether referral protocols between county facilities and national referral hospitals are being consistently followed. Health officials have not yet issued a comprehensive public response to the committee’s findings so far.