Giving birth should be a moment of joy, but for many women, it becomes a time of distress, especially when they can’t afford maternity fees in public hospitals, leaving some detained in wards or turned away altogether.
According to CPA Geoffrey Gitau Mwangi, lack of policies aimed at making maternal health services accessible, gaps in implementation continue to deny thousands of women dignified care during one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
CPA Mwangi was speaking at the Nakuru Provincial General Hospital where he visited and cleared bills for women at the Margaret Kenyatta Mother-Baby Unit who had given birth but were unable to leave the hospital after failing to clear their maternity bills.
Elizabeth Ngila said she had sought treatment at the facility on Thursday and was due for discharge on Saturday, but couldn’t leave because she couldn’t raise Sh8,950. Pauline Chepkimoi, a first-time mother from Kuresoi South, also had to stay longer after failing to raise Sh7,500.
Fred Omusungu, a bodaboda rider, shared how he was unable to raise Shs7,500 for his sister, whose husband is in college and unable to help. Dickson Siema spoke of the pain of watching his wife, and their newborn remain in hospital because they couldn’t clear a Sh5,000 bill.
“The Linda Mama used to provide free maternal health services to pregnant women and newborns and basically to ensure that we reduce maternal mortality. Sadly, the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is not working as envisaged,” he stated.
He said the Social Health Authority (SHA) must ensure that no woman seeking maternity services is detained for failing to pay. Maternity care, he stressed, should be accessible to all women, regardless of their financial status, and never a cause for suffering.
At the same time, the former National Health Insurance Fund boss criticized the broad-based government for what he called wastefulness and misplaced priorities, arguing that the billions allocated to empowerment programs should instead be redirected to strengthen healthcare services.
CPA Mwangi earned recognition for his financial management and leadership, spearheading key reforms and overseeing the successful implementation of sustainable projects during his tenure as CEO of the National Hospital Insurance Fund.
“NHIF was committed to ensuring that no woman or child was denied care due to cost. We would cover all maternity-related fees—from antenatal visits to delivery and postnatal care—at accredited facilities, so mothers would focus on a safe, healthy birth,” he recalled.