Female Members of Parliament (MP) drawn from across the political divide made an impromptu visit to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) following reports of rape cases involving new mothers.
The members of the 12th Parliament toured the facility with a focus on the newborn unit (NBU) as well as the wards where new mothers were accommodated.
Speaking to KTN News, Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda conveyed that interactions with the new mothers revealed that the hospital's management is aware of the threat against new mothers.
"One mother who was here last year has shared with us that she along with other mothers were chased along the corridors to the NBU by who they thought was another patient and they managed to escape safely.
"She told us that they raised it with the management and they were able to take action by increasing security at the corridor at the time. KNH should not be shy to tell the public that such cases occur," the legislator narrated.
She added: "They have also told us that when they came to the facility they were called as a group and told that they should always travel as a group and if they see a man in the elevator don't enter. so this is something management is aware of, they should just spare the country the headache and admit this so that we find a solution."
Murang'a Woman Representative and Chair of the National Assembly Health Committee Sabina Chege went on to narrate that the women at the wards conveyed the challenges they were facing with the quality of care.
"The women here are experiencing a number of serious challenges, sometimes they are discharged at 5 p. m. in the evening and at the time it becomes difficult to find their way home. Due to problems with the Linda Mama NHIF cover, sometimes mothers are discharged but their children are left admitted because the NHIF cover doesn't meet the infant's costs.
"In such cases, they are given a mattress to sleep on for the night and by 5 a. m. it is taken away and they are forced to just hang around the hospital. They've also raised an issue with cleanliness. They told us that their bed linens are not changed and they have no access to saline baths to clean their wounds," Ms Chege conveyed.
Nairobi Woman Rep Esther Passaris raised alarm over the number of female security guards at the facility calling for KNH to be accountable and share their security plan.
Other women leaders present at the facility included Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika and Homa Bay Woman Rep Gladys Wanga.
Here is a report compiled by KTN News.
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