- Senators have opened investigations into the death of baby Travis Maina who lost his life at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
- The lawmakers are seeking to unearth if there was negligence on the part of the national referral hospital that led to the death of the baby.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
Senators have opened investigations into the death of baby Travis Maina, who died at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
The lawmakers are seeking to unearth if there was negligence on the part of the national referral hospital, leading to the death of the baby.
The two-year-old succumbed during surgery early this month as medics tried to remove the fork jembe lodged in his head.
The probe, which will be undertaken by the Senate’s health committee, begins next week.
“The committee will be undertaking investigations immediately with a view to getting justice for Baby Travis’ family,” committee chairman Jackson Mandago said.
Mandago said the committee will summon KNH officials, Thika Level 5 and Kiambu Level 5 Hospital officers and Health CS Mutahi Kagwe.
Travis’s mother, Judy Muthoni, will also be invited to appear before the committee to shed light on the order of events that led to the eventual death of baby Travis.
Mandago also said the investigations will also help in identifying gaps and policy issues arising in the referral system in the country.
“We will also address the challenges in our referral system to prevent further loss of life,” the Uasin Gishu senator said.
“This is just one case of the many that happen in hospitals because it caught the attention of the public but there could be very many others that go unreported."
Baby Travis died on October 11, 2022, after allegedly being made to wait for too long before receiving emergency treatment at KNH.
According to the boy’s mother, the boy died on the surgeon’s table after being rushed to the hospital from Thika Level 5 Hospital after coming in from Ndula Dispensary.
Narok Senator Ledama Olekina alleged negligence on the part of the medics, sending a warning to the hospitals for discrimination in access to healthcare.
This, he said, contravenes Article 43 of the Constitution which gives every Kenyan the right to healthcare.
“We are sending a warning to health facilities that every person is free to access healthcare with or without money,” Olekina said.
Muthoni had decried delays from KNH staff at the Casualty Wing, saying they were told the medics were attending to a different emergency, adding that her son died because she is poor.
“Denial to the access of healthcare with or without money is something this committee will not tolerate. Everyone has a right to access healthcare regardless of their financial status,” he said.
Nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana, who triggered the probe with her petition to the House, said the probe will reveal the steps taken to respond to the patient.
“We must put a stop to this so as to avoid such occurrences in the future. We want to know how the ordeal started up until the death of the baby,” she said.
The senators also raised concerns over the preparedness of health facilities in the country with most funds still domiciled with the Ministry of Health despite health being a devolved function.
“These level 5 hospitals are just on paper as most don’t even have drugs. Money is still retained at the national level instead of going to counties to enable them provide services to the people,” Olekina said.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)