Sabina Chege threatens to lead protests against Major-General Badi

By , K24 Digital
On Sat, 19 Sep, 2020 16:54 | 2 mins read
Murang’a Woman Representative Sabina Chege has, for the first time, spoken about her rumoured relationship with John De’Mathew. [PHOTO | COURTESY]
Murang’a Woman Representative Sabina Chege. PHOTO | COURTESY
Murang’a Woman Representative Sabina Chege. PHOTO | COURTESY

By Brian Okoth and Alfred Maina.

Murang’a Woman Representative Sabina Chege has threatened to lead protests against the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) leadership if no “convincing explanation” is issued on why an expectant woman gave birth right outside Pumwani Hospital, yet the facility should have been used for that purpose.

On Friday, September 18, videos of a pregnant woman writhing in pain as she sought to be assisted to be delivered of her baby outside Pumwani Maternity Hospital, went viral, eliciting uproar among Kenyans.

The woman gave birth on a pavement without being accorded professional care during delivery.

And now, the National Assembly Committee on Health chairperson, Sabina Chege, has threatened to organise protests against the NMS Director-General Abdalla Badi if no valid explanation is given by him detailing who is to blame for the unfortunate incident.

“If Badi does not give a valid answer, I would mobilise women across Kenya to protest against the NMS and Pumwani Maternity Hospital management,” Sabina Chege said Saturday in Gikandu Village, Murang’a County, where she had attended a women empowerment event.

Meanwhile, the NMS has said in a statement that it “regrets the incident of a mother delivering at the gates of Pumwani Hospital”.

In the Saturday statement signed by the Director of Health Services, Dr. Josephine Kibaru Mbae, NMS said it had confirmed that the incident occurred on Sunday, September 13, 2020, two days after nurses had begun a legally notified go-slow.

“The go-slow has since ended after NMS and Health workers agreed on a return-to-work formula,” said Dr. Mbae.

The NMS Director of Health Services said on the fateful day “the security guard denied the patient access to the premises in a very unfortunate incident”.

“A nurse from the maternity ward was, thereafter, notified of the occurrence and rushed to the scene to assist in the delivery and admission to the maternity ward.”

Dr. Mbae said the mother and child are well, and were discharged on Friday, September 18.

She added, in her statement, that to avert such incidents in the future, the NMS will train its front office staff.

“The security team has been changed and a customer care desk set up,” said Dr. Mbae.

“We take this opportunity to apologise to all Kenyans and our mothers in particular for this unfortunate incident.”

Dr. Mbae said officers from the National Police Service will, moving forward, augment the p[rovision of security at Pumwani, Mbagathi, Mama Lucy and Mutuini hospitals “to prevent disruption of services”.