Barbara Aoko Mkok, a Kenyan mother aged 38, passed away following childbirth complications after delivering her baby at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) on 19 June 2025. Barbara succumbed to pre-eclampsia complications that led to kidney failure, which contributed to her untimely demise.
In Kenya, pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure in pregnancy) is the second leading case of maternal deaths. The leading cause of maternal deaths is post-partum haemorrhage (PPH) or excessive bleeding after childbirth.
The unfortunate death of Barbara Aoko Mkok is the seventh of the Wanjiku Kumbukumbu series by Mummy Tales, an initiative that is focused on documenting maternal deaths in Kenya to raise awareness about the issue and advocate for better maternal health. The project aims to memorialize Kenyan mothers we have lost to childbirth complications.
Read more Wanjiku Kumbukumbu articles:
- Stella Mtira Wangama’s death from post-caesarean section complications
- Magdalene Njoki Mburu’s passing from uterine rupture complications
- Mwalimu Immaculate Akinyi Kirui’s death from childbirth complications after delivering quadruplets
- Elizabeth Wairimu’s death from pulmonary embolism at age 27
- Phanice Kerubo, 27, dies from childbirth complications
- Vanessa Wanjiku’s death while giving life
If you would like to share information about a mother who has lost her life due to maternal health complications in 2025, or if you would like to support the Wanjiku Kumbukumbu project by Mummy Tales, please reach me at maryanne@mummytales.com
Mummy Tales by Maryanne W. Waweru is a platform dedicated to empowering its readers on different aspects of womanhood and motherhood. Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: FACEBOOK l YOU TUBE l TWITTER
Barbara’s photo credit: Daily Nation 26/06/25
