Sakaja Denies 100 Women Detained at Mama Lucy Hospital Over Unpaid Bills
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has dismissed claims that over 100 women were detained at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital due to uncleared maternity fees. He clarified the matter during a Senate Health Committee appearance on November 6, 2025.
No Detentions Over Unpaid Bills, Says Sakaja
Sakaja stated that no patient was held in the maternity ward because of unpaid bills. He explained that delays in discharge were linked to the review process for potential bill waivers by the county’s waiver committee—not punitive detention.
“The hospital does not retain women,” Sakaja emphasized. “It’s the waiver approval timeline that caused delays, and we are working to refine it.”
Support Systems in Place
The governor highlighted Mama Lucy Hospital’s care initiative, which identifies financially vulnerable patients and connects them with well-wishers for support. A dedicated team also enrolls eligible patients into the Social Health Authority (SHA) program.
Patients unable to pay may still be discharged through the county’s formal waiver system, which operates under a weekly review committee guided by official circulars.
Context of Recent Clearances
Sakaja’s remarks follow former Governor Mike Sonko’s clearance of bills for 110 mothers reportedly held at the same facility. Those earlier reports sparked public outcry over alleged detentions of women with newborns just days old.
Expanded ICU Capacity Cited
During the same hearing, Sakaja noted significant upgrades in Nairobi’s public healthcare infrastructure. The county now operates 46 ICU beds across its hospitals—up from zero before his tenure. Mama Lucy alone has 18 ICU beds, alongside new neonatal units at Mama Margaret Uhuru and Mbagathi hospitals.
