Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has dispatched a team of health practitioners to investigate the death of an expectant mother during delivery at St. Elizabeth Mukumu Mission Hospital in Kakamega County.
Investigation Team
Speaking in Nairobi on Monday, Duale said the team will include members from the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) and the Director General for Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth. The probe will examine the hospital’s systems and practices to determine why maternal deaths are occurring.
“We are sending a team to go and investigate the whole ecosystem of Mukumu hospital, [on] why mothers are dying. We must make sure that no mother dies and no child dies,” Duale stated.
Family Allegations
The deceased, Grace Wambui Misigo, was admitted on February 10, 2026, but died in the labour ward. Her family alleges medical negligence, claiming nurses assaulted her while forcing a natural delivery despite heavy bleeding. Relatives recounted that she was struck in the chest and ribs, and later rushed to theatre for a C-section, but both mother and child died.
An autopsy confirmed her death was caused by ruptured organs, including ribs and the uterus. Efforts to obtain a response from the hospital have so far been unsuccessful.
National Context
The incident comes shortly after the Ministry of Health launched the National Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) steering committee, aimed at ending preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
During the launch, Duale emphasized:
“Every woman matters. Every newborn matters. And every preventable death must be prevented. Together, with unity of purpose and unwavering resolve, we will ensure that every woman and every newborn survives and thrives everywhere in Kenya.”
Next Steps
The Ministry has announced plans to introduce a national hotline for citizens to report suspected negligence in health facilities. The Mukumu case is expected to test the effectiveness of Kenya’s maternal health oversight mechanisms and highlight systemic challenges in safeguarding mothers and newborns.
