Muteithania Nursing home closed amid probe into death of pregnant woman

According to David Kariuki, CEO of KMPDC, the facility's closure follows a visit by the Union and county officials, some three weeks ago. 

"I would like to confirm that we have closed down a health facility by the name of Muteithania in the Kawangware area of Nairobi for not complying with standards," said Kariuki.

"We received poor outcomes of patients who had visited that clinic."

Several regulatory bodies, he said, had visited the facility three weeks ago and conducted inspections before partially closing it and making recommendations.

According to Kariuki, they received information after the partial closure that the facility had continued to operate normally and without authority.

KMPDC officials, as well as DCI officers and Nairobi County officials, returned to the hospital on Wednesday and arrested two officers.

"We have closed down the facility for not complying with standards and for not complying with the notice to close," Kariuki told the media. 

"And secondly, for using unqualified staff, and thirdly, for the poor outcomes for which we are continuing with investigations, the  facility will remain closed as long as investigations are ongoing."

At the heart of the matter are two incidents that drew attention to the facility: one involving a woman who bled excessively after giving birth, and another involving a pregnant woman who collapsed and died at the hospital.

According to Crystal Mutegi, the hospital's assistant proprietor, an incident occurred at the facility in which a woman who came to deliver at the hospital lost her child and also developed Postpartum haemorrhage.

"Kuna mama alikuja hapa kuzaa, akazaa, mtoto akakufa na yeye wakati tulona amepata Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), tukampeleka Kenyatta ambapo alikufa," said Mutegi.

She stated that following the incident, several entities, including Nairobi County officials, visited the facility and conducted an inspection before recommending a slew of changes, including the installation of new partitions and ventilation.

"Mara tunaona watu wanakuja, mara county government ikakuja ikazunguka, ikaangalia ikatwambia zile vitu tunafaa kurekebisha, tukarekebisha," she added. 

"Wakakuja tena wakasema tuweke ventilation na tuweke partition and all that and  we did it."

According to Mutegi, who read malice into the hospital's closure, the KPDMU closed the facility even after implementing all of the proposed changes.

"Lakini badala ya kukuja kuangalia kama tumefanya hayo yote, wakakuja wakafunga hosoitali wakasema hatuna license," she said.

"Wameonwa wa hao wangenine wanataka kutu intimidate ndio tufunge."