Mama Lucy Hospital dismisses claims of mothers giving birth on floor, demands apology

The Board of Management at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital has dismissed allegations by Embakasi East MP Babu Owino that mothers are giving birth on the floor and that the facility is in a deplorable condition, terming the claims misleading and unfair to staff and patients.

In a statement issued on Friday, February 20, and signed by Board Member Dorcas Kemunto, the Board said the assertions undermine the dedication of healthcare workers who serve thousands of residents daily.

“We strongly condemn these allegations in the clearest and most unequivocal terms. The claims are misleading, inaccurate and unfairly portray this facility as incapable of delivering safe and dignified care,” Kemunto said.

She added that such statements risk misinforming the public while eroding confidence in frontline health professionals.

“Such statements not only misinform the public but also undermine the commitment of our healthcare professionals who serve over 2,000 patients every single day,” she noted.

According to the Board, the hospital attends to more than 2,000 patients daily, making it one of the busiest public health facilities in the country, with its maternity wing conducting over 30 safe deliveries each day.

“We categorically state that mothers are not giving birth on the floor under the current administration,” Kemunto said, adding that the facility performs between 15 and 25 surgical procedures daily, reflecting what the Board described as expanded clinical and life-saving capacity.

The Board cited several upgrades at the facility, including a well-stocked pharmacy, a fully functional Social Health Authority (SHA) system supported by help desks, modern diagnostic and laboratory equipment, a fully operational blood bank, and functional PICU and NICU units that have reduced referrals to Kenyatta National Hospital.

The statement also urged political leaders to avoid politicising health services.

“Public health institutions must not be used as platforms for political contestation, particularly where statements risk creating unnecessary panic and eroding public trust,” Kemunto said.

The response follows remarks made on Wednesday by Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, who alleged that the hospital was in a deplorable state and that expectant mothers were being forced to deliver on the floor.

“Mama Lucy has become a death trap in the name of a hospital. No drugs in the hospital. There is a lot of negligence. Our mothers are being treated disrespectfully and are delivering on the floors... doctors are not paid, services are not ran there and it is a shame,” the MP claimed.

The Board has called on the legislator to withdraw the remarks and issue a public apology to the hospital’s administration, staff and patients.