The Margaret Kenyatta Mother and Baby Unit at Nakuru Level Five Hospital, Kenya’s second-largest maternity facility after Pumwani, is facing severe overcrowding.
The 250-bed unit now sees up to four mothers and their babies sharing a single bed.
Some women sleep on the floor using their own clothes and lesos as bedding.
Others take turns sleeping so their newborns can rest.
A mother who recently delivered at the unit (name withheld for privacy) told reporters:
“We have been sleeping in shifts. Sometimes four people share one bed, while others sleep on the floor. You just use some of your clothes and a leso to sleep, because there are no bedsheets and mattresses. Sometimes we spend the night awake to allow our babies to sleep.”
A nurse at the facility, speaking anonymously, confirmed the situation:
“The number of expectant mothers has been swelling in the past months and sometimes we are left with no option but to allow mothers and babies to share beds. This is because we cannot turn away mothers who arrive at the facility ready to deliver.”
The unit delivers around 1,000 babies each month and serves patients from Nakuru and at least seven neighbouring counties, including Bomet, Baringo, Narok, Kericho, Samburu, Laikipia and Nyandarua.
Nakuru County health executive Roselyn Mungai acknowledged the congestion.
She said the facility is a regional referral centre and many mothers bypass lower-level hospitals to come directly to the unit.
Recent upgrades to facilities like Bondeni Maternity, Gilgil Maternity, Naivasha Sub-County Hospital and Molo Sub-County Hospital aim to ease the pressure.
The closure of Mediheal Hospital and War Memorial Hospital in Nakuru has also increased patient numbers at the Level Five facility.
Residents and health workers say the overcrowding raises risks of infections and strains staff.
The unit, opened five years ago at a cost of Sh450 million, has modern theatres, an ICU for mothers and babies, a pharmacy, laboratory and imaging centre.
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