A couple in Nairobi, who lost their baby under mysterious circumstances at the Pumwani Maternity Hospital at birth are still waiting for answers two year later.
Daniel Githui and Consolata Mumbi commissioned a DNA test to clear any doubts that the corpse they were given was someone else’s baby. For two years the body has been lying at the City Mortuary, forcing the mogue to engage Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI )to unearth the truth.
The matter has also been investigated by Kenya Medical Practitioner and Dentists Union (KMPDU), and now handed over to the DCI as doctors deem it as a criminal case.
Ms Mumbi who went into labour on January 19, 2018 and was rushed to the Kiambu District Hospital believes her child is a live somewhere is now two years of old.
After an all-night labour, she was transferred to Pumwani Maternity Hospital, where she was admitted at around 9pm. Since she had problems with her birth canal not opening enough, she was booked for a Caesarean section at around 2am because she was losing a lot of blood and with the baby in distress. Mumbi, however, claims she says she was wheeled into the theatre at 6.30am while her husband was kept waiting outside.
He was later called in and informed that their baby was dead but the body he was showed was allegedly cold and stiff with a dry umbilical cord.
Her husband, meanwhile, waited outside the theatre, pacing in the corridors, anxiously awaiting the good news. About 20 minutes later, Mr Githui was called in.
The couple claims Pumwani did not allow their relatives to see the body and even when he asked to see his wife he was told he was making matters complicated.
When they were asked to bury the dead baby or let the state bury her, they couple called for DNA test to be conducted.
They reported the incident at the Kiambu Police Station and together with officials from Pangani they were advised to take a DNA test to solve the impasse. Samples were obtained on February 18, 2018 and taken to the Government Chemist. A procedure that has since taken close to two years.
