Amid public outrage over allegations of rape at KNH, its CEO has explained that her addresses to the media are based on the reports they receive.
Kenyatta National Hospital was put on the spot after a woman claimed she was sexually assaulted when she sought to breastfeed her baby.
Members of the public got angry on Friday when CEO Lily Koros reported that they asked the DCI to investigate as they did not have any record of assault.
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The chief executive noted on Sunday night that she was not wrong when she asked Kenyans to ignore reports that were not based on records.
During her interview on Citizen TV, she said this statement was based on the report she had received by that time.
"This was in regards to the report that we had. I don't think I was wrong at that point when I said
Kenyans
should ignore the reports," she said.
"I am not dismissing it but right now we don't know whether
it happened or not. I sit here as a mother and a woman before a CEO.
"It was not a denial. When the allegations came out, what we did was come together to see if there was any truth to them.
We get reports of incidents on a day to day basis. Among those complaints, there has been none in my office on rape allegations.
This is not to say that the allegations are unfounded."
Koros said they scanned through the report they had and did not find anything that pointed at rape.
"We have never received
any allegations of rape," she said.
"The allegations are
in bad faith. We have written
to the DCI to investigate and if there
is any truth then action will be taken."
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Gender-based violence center
Koros asked why patients were not making use of the violence centre located at the hospital.
"I am asking myself why our patients are not making use of the gender-based violence centre that was opened in 2016. We attend to victims of violence," she said, noting she would tell somebody if any such attacks were against her.
"If it happens to me, I will not pack and go home. I will
try to do something ... tell someone. Can we come out and say what happened? We cannot help without this information.
"Media said
it [rape] is rampant. Are you telling me that among all the mothers that are claiming this, none was brave
enough to come out and say 'I was harassed'? It is possible they were afraid but they should at least speak out."
The CEO also asked parents to make use of the centre as the services are free of charge.
Koros said they are considering
moving the mothers' ward closer to where the babies are.
"The board met and discussed this. We can explore opportunities to move the wards. The truth is that the hospital was initially built
for specific purposes but we will try to see how to reorganise it."
On Friday, Health CS Cleopas Mailu ordered investigations into the alleged rape ordeals at the hospital.
He said the KNH management and security agents will have provided a report on the issue by January 22.
Via Twitter, the Cabinet Secretary said he
instructed the management to beef up security so patients and their relatives are safe.
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