Former Governor Threatens Legal Battle Over Neglected 86-Bed Facility as Mothers Suffer in Overcrowded Ward
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko has issued a hard-hitting ultimatum to Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration over the stalled 86-bed maternity wing at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, threatening to take the matter to court if the county fails to act immediately.
Sonko, who made an impromptu visit to the facility on Monday night, expressed outrage over what he described as “gross neglect and administrative indifference,” saying the abandoned maternity wing—declared 88 percent complete in September 2018 during his tenure—could have been a game-changer for maternal healthcare in Eastlands.
“When I was Governor, we completed a 72-bed wing. All it needed were beds and equipment. Why hasn’t Sakaja equipped it? Why didn’t General Badi do it? Women are suffering while the building gathers dust,” Sonko said.
The former governor’s visit came after reports that over 110 new mothers were being detained at the hospital over unpaid medical bills. Sonko described the situation inside the facility as “heartbreaking,” recounting scenes of six or seven mothers sharing a single bed in overcrowded wards.
Abandoned Promise and Broken Systems
The stalled maternity wing, initially designed to decongest the overstretched facility, has remained untouched for seven years despite multiple budget allocations. The unutilized structure, now swallowed by overgrown weeds, stands as a haunting reminder of Nairobi’s healthcare failures.
Sonko accused the current county leadership of neglecting essential health infrastructure while residents continue to suffer. He said he intends to move to court under constitutional provisions guaranteeing the right to quality healthcare, adding that he will also petition investigative agencies to probe how funds allocated for the project were spent.
“We will seek direction from the courts so Nairobi residents, especially those in Eastlands, stop being denied proper health services,” he stated.
Condemns Detention of Mothers
Sonko also condemned the ongoing detention of new mothers who cannot clear their hospital bills, calling it a violation of human dignity. He urged the county government to expand registration under the Social Health Authority (SHA) to ensure hospitals receive reimbursements instead of holding patients hostage.
“It’s wrong to hold women in hospital because they lack money. Make SHA registration compulsory so the hospital gets reimbursed and patients aren’t humiliated,” he said.
Questions Over Cancer Screening Machines
The former governor further questioned the fate of six cancer screening machines installed at the facility during his administration, lamenting that vital screening services that once saved lives had been discontinued.
“Those machines helped save lives. Screening was free. Where are they now? Those services must be restored,” he demanded.
“Not Politics, Just Humanity”
Sonko dismissed claims that his renewed activism was politically motivated, insisting that his concern stems from empathy for ordinary Nairobians.
> “This is not about politics. It’s about mothers suffering. Governor Sakaja, just equip that building. If nothing happens soon, we will mobilize citizens ourselves,” he declared.
As pressure mounts, all eyes are now on City Hall to see whether Governor Sakaja will act on the former governor’s challenge—or risk a high-profile legal and public relations storm over one of Nairobi’s most symbolic healthcare projects.
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