Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has denied claims that over 100 women were detained at Mama Lucy Hospital due to unpaid maternity bills. He clarified the situation during an appearance before the Senate Health Committee on November 6, 2025. The statement follows former Governor Mike Sonko's payment of bills for 110 mothers at the facility.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja appeared before the Senate Health Committee on Thursday, November 6, 2025, to address reports that more than 100 women had been detained at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital after failing to pay maternity fees. Sakaja dismissed these claims outright, stating that no patients were held in the hospital's maternity unit due to unpaid bills.
He explained that any delays in discharging the women stemmed from a minor issue in reviewing hospital bills for potential waivers by the county's waiver committee. "We do not retain women in facilities; it is the waiver period that took some time, and that is what we are refining. Facilities cannot run if payments are not made," Sakaja told the committee.
The governor highlighted support mechanisms at Mama Lucy Hospital, including a care initiative that identifies needy patients and secures funding from well-wishers to cover medical costs. A dedicated team also helps patients enroll in the Social Health Authority (SHA) programme. For those unable to pay, discharge is possible through the county's waiver system, managed by a special committee that meets weekly as per county guidelines.
This clarification comes shortly after former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko paid bills for 110 mothers who had reportedly been detained at the hospital's maternity ward over unpaid fees. Initial reports described women, including some with newborns just days old, being held for non-payment.
During the same meeting, Sakaja discussed improvements in county healthcare infrastructure. He noted that public hospitals now have 46 intensive care unit (ICU) beds, up from zero before his tenure. These include 18 beds at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, 10 at Mama Margaret Uhuru Hospital, and 8 at Mbagathi Hospital, along with new neonatal ICU units. Previously, only Kenyatta National Hospital offered public ICU services in Nairobi.