A couple in Nairobi is in agony after they lost one of their newborn two-week old son at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
Job Ouko, his wife Jane Kerubo and his sister-in-law Naomi Leo visited KNH on Sunday night after she developed breathing complications.
Kerubo had two weeks ago given birth to her twin sons at the same facility.
However, despite bringing in his wife for treatment on Sunday at 2am, Kerubo only got to see the doctor on Monday at 11am.
It is while she was at the waiting bay that they developed rapport with some two other women seated next to them, one who conversed in Kisii dialect.
When it was Kerubo’s turn to see the doctor, the Ouko’s asked the two women to hold for them their two sons as she was attended to.
“I am a human being, I see someone who is also a patient and waiting [sic] (and) decided to ask for help. I gave the other son to yet another patient to hold them as I escorted my wife to the ward,” Ouko told Daily Nation.
However, moments later, the second woman in custody of one of the boys alerted Ouko of the Kisii-speaking woman of leaving with his other son named Prince.
CCTV cameras at KNH captured the woman carrying the stolen baby and later boarded a bodaboda and took off.
KNH management acknowledged the incident stating they have informed police of the matter.
“We have reported the matter to the police and the rider and the lady (second woman) were questioned. We are reviewing CCTV footage and have given police the same access. The sister and the husband are helping with the investigations,” KNH Communication manager Samuel Ithai said in a statement.
Ouko has however castigated KNH for being of little help in finding his missing son. He said his plea to have a screenshot of the woman from the CCTV footage given to him has not been heeded to.
“We have requested to be given a screenshot of the footage that can help the public identify the woman since none of us can clearly remember her because we had gone through a lot of trauma from 2am to 11:30am when we were admitted.”
He also questioned why KNH has no records of the suspect who fled with his son. “The two women had come in with patients, how is it that there are no records at the information desk to show us who the second woman was?”
Speaking on Citizen TV Tuesday morning, Ouko said he has given KNH ample time to address his concerns before he takes legal action.
“I am still giving the hospital time to sort out my case and if that does not happen, then I will consider legal action.”
This incident comes barely a month after headlines from KNH where it was alleged that lactating mothers were being sexually molested by morgue attendants.