Nakuru County dismisses claims of infant detention at referral hospital

Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital (NCRTH)/SCREENGRAB

The Nakuru County Government has dismissed alleged reports suggesting infants were denied a chance to return home from the Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital (NCRTH) due to the delayed settlement of medical bills by the Social Health Authority (SHA).

The county is responding to alleged media reports that suggested children had been held at the facility after undergoing surgery because their bills had not been cleared.

In a statement released on Saturday, County Executive Committee Member for Health, Roselyn Mungai, termed the claims as “entirely false” and urged the public to disregard them.

“Our attention has been drawn to misleading information… We wish to correct the misleading information… and clarify that this allegation is entirely false,” she said.

According to the statement, the hospital recently hosted a week-long pediatric surgery camp from September 1 to 5, 2025.

The initiative, according to the statement, was organised in partnership with the State Department of Health and brought together pediatric surgeons from Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Tenwek Hospital, and Kajiado County Referral Hospital.

During the camp, 112 children successfully underwent surgery. Of these, 81 had already been discharged by Saturday. The hospital indicated that 18 were released on Thursday, 44 on Friday, and 19 on Saturday.

The remaining 31 children are under post-operative care and observation and are expected to be discharged between Sunday and Monday.

The county explained that under Ministry of Health guidelines, every patient who undergoes major surgery must remain in hospital for at least 72 hours to allow for monitoring and safe recovery.

“Children operated on Monday were discharged on Thursday. Those who underwent surgery later in the week are scheduled for discharge over the weekend and by Monday,” the statement noted.

Mungai clarified that while some parents may have felt their children were stable enough to leave earlier, medical guidelines must be followed strictly.

“While some parents may have felt their children were stable enough to leave earlier, these medical guidelines must be strictly followed for patient safety,” she said.

She emphasised that no child had been detained at NCRTH and that all medical costs for the camp were fully covered.

“The Social Health Authority (SHA) fully covered all medical bills for the camp. No patient has stayed beyond the recommended 72-hour post-surgery period,” she added.

The county further lauded the surgical teams and partners who carried out the operations. “Let us acknowledge the tremendous effort made by the surgical teams and partners who worked tirelessly to restore these children’s health and dignity,” the statement read.

The health department assured residents that NCRTH remains committed to offering quality, safe, and compassionate care.

“NCRTH remains committed to providing quality, safe, and compassionate care to all patients from Nakuru County and beyond,” Mungai said.

The statement was copied to the County Secretary, the Chief Officer for Medical Services, and the Chief Officer for Public Health Services.

The county’s clarification comes amid heightened public interest in healthcare services, particularly concerning the treatment and welfare of vulnerable patients such as infants.