The National Assembly through the Parliamentary Committee on Health on Saturday summoned Kenyatta National Hospital CEO Lilly Koros to appear before it to clarify allegations that patients were being raped in the institution
The CEO has been asked to appear before the committee on Friday 26, January to report the findings of the hospital's investigations on the matter and explain the status of equipment at the referral hospital.
The move by the legislators comes only a day after allegations of rape against breastfeeding mothers emerged.
According to reports, mothers who go through Cesarean section at the hospital are at a high risk of being raped when they go to breastfeed their newborn babies at the nurseries located in a different floor.
The CEO, however, dismissed the claims stating that no such case had been reported.
[caption caption="File image of KNH CEO Lilly Koros"]
[/caption]
"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. Not a single case has been reported to us.
"There are security teams who oversee the safety and security of patients in the hospital day and night. There is no single complaint that has been registered in such a case yet we have suggestion boxes," she explained.
Meanwhile, female Members of Parliament (MP) drawn from across the political divide on Saturday 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 patients.
[caption caption="Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda"]
[/caption]
"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.
