Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko suspended Health Cabinet Member Vesca Kangogo over what he termed as 'insubordination’ on the Pumwani Hospital saga.
Vesca was suspended alongside four other top county officials after they contradicted Sonko's assertion of negligence in the death of 11 infants whose bodies were found stuffed in plastic bags at Pumwani Maternity Hospital.
Sonko appointed Pauline Kahiga as the County Secretary, Charles Kerich as the Health CEC, Mohamed Saleh as the Chief Officer Health Services, and David Aseko as County attorney all in an acting capacity.
Kangogo who addressed the media at Pumwani Maternity Hospital stated that the deaths occurred from operations that are normal to health.
Chief Officer Health Services Mahat Jamale who was among those suspended stated that out of the 11 deaths, four were recorded as fresh stillbirths.
Jamale further noted that two deaths were macerated stillbirths, whereby the babies had already died in the womb by the time they were delivered.
He added that four were neonatal deaths, meaning the babies had died within the first 28 days of life.
According to Jamale the 11th baby was brought to the hospital dead by a parent who wanted the Pumwani hospital to safely dispose of it.
“The truth is that out of the 11 bodies that were confirmed yesterday we can account for each and every child with tagging and notification of deaths,” Jamale stated.
Sonko was accused by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) of politicising the Pumwani Hospital saga.
