Kenyatta National Hospital Speaks after Woman Accused it of Neglecting Her Mother to Death

Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has defended itself against claims that a 68-year-old woman died at the facility after she was neglected by doctors. 

In a video that went viral online, the woman's daughter claimed that the hospital refused to admit the patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after she was hit by a boda boda.

Instead, she claimed her mum was admitted to one of the general wards where she received no medical attention leading to her death. She said a doctor by the name Zawadi was responsible for her mother's death.

In a statement, KNH acting CEO Peter Masinde said the patient, Hanna Njoki, was received at the Accident and Emergency Unit on August 25th with severe head injury which required that she be taken to ICU. However, there was no ICU bed available at the time meaning she could not be admitted.

“Unfortunately, there was no available ICU bed at Kenyatta National Hospital but treatment was initiated and the patient was admitted in Ward 58 awaiting availability,” acting CEO Peter Masinde said in a statement.

Masinde claims the family was informed of the situation and were urged to move the patient to an alternative hospital where she could receive ICU treatment but declined, citing lack of cash to pay for ICU treatment at a private facility.

KNH said Njoki succumbed to injuries on August 28th while still waiting to get an available bed at the ICU.

“It is regrettable that the patient passed on 28th August 2018 while we were still waiting to get an ICU bed at Kenyatta National Hospital.” the statement adds.

Currently, KNH has a bed capacity of 31 in the ICU and blames the government for failing to equip other public hospitals in the city with ICU facilities.