Grief and anger have engulfed parts of Kisii County following the death of an expectant mother at Kenyenya Sub-County Hospital, with a governorship aspirant, Dr Ondari, calling for urgent investigations and sweeping reforms in the county’s health system.
Early reports, citing the bereaved family, indicate that the deceased spent long hours in distress at the facility without timely medical intervention, proper management, or an effective referral. She later died in what relatives described as “a preventable tragedy.”
Dr Ondari, himself a medical practitioner, termed the circumstances surrounding the death as deeply troubling and demanded accountability.
“I am deeply saddened and outraged,” he said in a statement released Saturday.
“No mother should die while seeking safe delivery services in a public health facility. Such a death is not just a personal family tragedy, but a systemic failure.”
The incident marks the second reported maternal death in less than two years in the region. The first occurred at Magena Dispensary, in Bomachoge Borabu, sparking week-long protests by residents demanding improvements in maternal healthcare services.
On Saturday, Dr Ondari warned that the recurrence of such cases points to deeper structural problems within the county’s healthcare system.
“When maternal deaths begin to form a pattern, we must confront the painful truth: this is a crisis of systems, leadership, and accountability,” he said.
He cited alleged deficiencies in emergency obstetric preparedness, breakdowns in referral systems, and what he described as a non-functional ambulance service within the county. According to him, the collapse of emergency response mechanisms has turned manageable obstetric complications into fatal outcomes.
Dr Ondari noted that healthcare professionals cannot deliver quality care without adequate staffing, proper equipment, reliable referral networks, and clear accountability structures.
Among his demands are an immediate and transparent investigation into the latest death, the suspension of senior county health officials to allow for independent inquiries, and a public audit of the county’s ambulance and referral systems. He also called for urgent restoration of functional emergency obstetric services across sub-county hospitals and improved support and motivation for frontline health workers.
“The people of Kisii deserve better. Mothers deserve dignity, safety, and competent care. Health is not a political favour; it is a constitutional right,” he said.
Dr Ondari added that the recurring maternal deaths have strengthened his resolve to seek the governorship in order to “restore competence, accountability, and dignity in service delivery.”
He expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and pledged continued advocacy to ensure that no mother loses her life while giving life.
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