Mothers in Kenya are once again speaking out about being detained in hospitals over unpaid bills, this time at Thika Level 5 Hospital.
A viral video has shown women confined in maternity wards after delivery, with some claiming they have been held for months because they could not afford to settle the charges.
One of the mothers said they were suffering as they had children at home but remained stuck in the hospital for two or even three months. This revelation has stirred public debate on how the health system is handling maternal care and whether the Social Health Authority is truly protecting vulnerable women.
The issue comes only days after similar accounts emerged from Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, where new mothers shared stories of being detained. The repeated cases have cast doubt on the government’s health financing system, which was meant to ensure that mothers are not burdened with excessive costs when seeking maternity services.
Experts have warned that the gaps in the SHA benefits package are pushing women into desperate situations, undermining confidence in public healthcare.
Kenya Medical Association Chairperson, Dr. Simon Kigondu, has placed blame on political leaders for misleading Kenyans about what the system offers.
He said politicians often tell citizens that hospital care is free, but the truth is that unless a patient has consistently paid their SHA premiums, the costs will not be covered.
His remarks poses the challenge faced by thousands of mothers who either do not have steady incomes or are not properly informed about how the system operates.
On the other hand, the Principal Secretary for Public Health, Mary Muthoni, has insisted that the government has safety nets to protect such mothers.
She explained that if a patient is referred and unable to pay, there are programs meant to support indigent women.
She also argued that leaders, including members of parliament and county governments, have a responsibility to ensure mothers in such situations receive help. Her statement, however, has not convinced many observers who point to the growing number of cases of detention as proof that the support mechanisms are either inadequate or not being implemented properly.
Although the government has introduced the Primary Care Network to guarantee free antenatal, postnatal, and delivery services, the reality is that SHA contracts demand proof of contribution.
In emergency cases such as caesarean sections, many women are unable to provide this and end up incurring huge bills.
The Social Health Insurance Fund Act directs Parliament to set aside money to cover indigent and vulnerable citizens, with both national and county governments required to pay for their cover.
Yet the slow pace of implementation has left hospitals without dedicated funds to assist disadvantaged mothers.
Experts are now urging urgent reforms to address these gaps. They argue that unless the SHA benefits are brought in line with the real cost of care, poor women will continue facing detention in hospitals.
This practice not only strips them of dignity but also exposes deeper cracks in the country’s healthcare system, which was meant to protect them during one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
