The Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) has dismissed claims that it detains new mothers, following a viral TikTok video alleging mistreatment of patients at Riley Mother and Baby Hospital.
In a statement on Friday, September 19, MTRH CEO Philip Kirwa clarified that all patients were receiving proper care in line with the hospital’s standards.
"Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) has taken note of a short video circulating on TikTok regarding services at Riley Mother and Baby Hospital and wish to clarify that all mothers received care and attention in line with MTRH’s high standards.
"Some of them were in the process of discharge but faced challenges completing Social Health Authority (SHA) registration. This was mainly due to missing documents—such as Identity Cards or Birth Certificates—or unpaid annual SHA premiums, which are required for bill settlement," the statement read.
Kirwa also refuted claims that patients were being served leftovers, noting that meals at the hospital meet quality standards.
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"Services, medical supplies, and meals at MTRH meet quality standards and claims that patients were served leftovers are therefore untrue," the statement added.
Kirwa emphasized that the hospital remains focused on patient dignity and urged Kenyans to comply with SHA requirements for smooth service.
"As a client-centric Hospital, we remain committed to treating all patients with dignity and care. We, therefore, encourage all clients to register with SHA and keep their premiums up-to-date to ensure smooth service delivery," the statement further read.
Kirwa further noted that special measures are in place for vulnerable groups, and reassured MTRH’s commitment to delivering quality healthcare.
"It is important to note that teenage mothers who do not yet have ID cards are facilitated with temporary IDs to enable SHA registration. Those who are unable to pay are reviewed by our credit committee and released home.
"We take this opportunity to reassure our clients and the public that MTRH will continue to provide safe, reliable, and quality healthcare. We remain committed to supporting SHA sensitization," the statement concluded.
This comes about two weeks after the Nakuru County Government dismissed as false reports alleging that infants were being detained at the Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital (NCRTH) over unpaid medical bills.
In a statement on Saturday, September 6, the Department of Health Services clarified that the allegations, which were published by a local newspaper, are entirely false.
"Our attention has been drawn to misleading information published by the Standard newspaper claiming that infants have been detained at the Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital (NCRTH) due to unpaid medical bills.
"We wish to correct the misleading information published by the Standard newspaper and clarify that this allegation is entirely false," the statement read.
The department explained that NCRTH recently conducted a week-long pediatric surgery camp in collaboration with the State Department of Health and specialized surgeons from Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Tenwek Hospital, and Kajiado County Referral Hospital.
The camp, which ran from September 1 to 5, 2025, focused on pediatric surgical cases involving children under five years old.
According to the department, the camp yielded positive results as 112 children successfully underwent surgery.
It added that 81 children have already been discharged, with 18 on Thursday, 44 on Friday, and 19 on Saturday.
The department clarified that 31 children remain under care and will be discharged on Sunday and Monday, following the completion of mandatory post-operative observation.
It further explained that the medical guidelines required all children to remain under observation for at least 72 hours after surgery.
"Per Ministry of Health guidelines, every patient undergoing major surgery must remain under post-operative care and observation for at least 72 hours to ensure a safe recovery. Children operated on Monday were discharged on Thursday. Those who underwent surgery later in the week are scheduled for discharge over the weekend and by Monday," the statement added.
The department noted that no child had been detained at the hospital, adding that the Social Health Authority (SHA) had fully covered the medical bills for the camp.
"While some parents may have felt their children were stable enough to leave earlier, these medical guidelines must be strictly followed for patient safety. No child has been detained at NCRTH. The Social Health Authority (SHA) fully covered all medical bills for the camp. No patient has stayed beyond the recommended 72-hour post-surgery period," the statement added.
Nakuru County Health Executive Roselyn Mungai urged the public to disregard the report and instead recognize the efforts of the medical teams involved.
"We urge the public to disregard this misleading report. Instead, let us acknowledge the tremendous effort made by the surgical teams and partners who worked tirelessly to restore these children’s health and dignity. NCRTH remains committed to providing quality, safe, and compassionate care to all patients from Nakuru County and beyond," the statement concluded.
