The recent death of an expectant mother and her unborn twins at Magena Dispensary in Kisii County has reignited urgent national conversations about the dire state of healthcare infrastructure in rural Kenya, prompting lawmakers to call for sweeping reforms.
During a visit to the facility, a delegation of women Members of Parliament, led by Kisii County Woman Representative Dorice Donya, highlighted the incident as a grim reflection of the systemic failures plaguing local health institutions.
The deceased’s mother, Phanice Nyaboke, recounted the harrowing experience, claiming her daughter was left unattended for over 24 hours despite showing signs of distress during prolonged labour. The tragedy occurred on March 19, sparking national outrage and renewed scrutiny of rural maternity care.
Highlighting the appalling conditions at the facility, Donya revealed that Magena Dispensary operates without clean running water and proper lighting in its delivery rooms.
Nominated MP Irene Mayaka joined the call for accountability, emphasizing the constitutional right to healthcare.
The MPs used the moment to advocate for a complete reevaluation of healthcare delivery in marginalized regions. They are pushing for increased funding, stricter oversight, and immediate audits of healthcare centers in similar conditions.
