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Kenyan mothers we lost to maternal deaths in 2025: the Wanjiku Kumbukumbu series by Mummy Tales

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0
maternal-deaths-Kenya

By Maryanne W. Waweru l maryanne@mummytales.com

As 2025 ends, I want to take a moment to reflect on one of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on this year -the Wanjiku Kumbukumbu series by Mummy Tales. In this series, I shared the names and faces of some of the Kenyan mothers who tragically lost their lives during pregnancy, childbirth, or shortly after giving birth this year. What remains clear from these women’s stories is that even in this day and age, maternal mortality is still a very real and painful reality in Kenya.

The Kenyan mothers whose deaths came too soon in 2025 had different backgrounds and profiles. Some were young mothers, first-time-mothers, experienced mothers, career women, homemakers, businesswomen… We got to learn about what happened to them through the words of their husbands, mothers, fathers, sisters, friends, colleagues, and relatives. Sadly, most of these deaths were preventable. Today, their families are still grieving, wondering what went wrong and what could have been done differently.

The late Vanessa Wanjiku. Photo: Screengrab – K24TV

Each story in the Wanjiku Kumbukumbu series not only helped to raise awareness about maternal health, but also reminded us that behind every statistic is a woman who had life going on for her, a family that loved her, and dreams she wanted to achieve. She had a bright future which sadly, ended rather prematurely.

The reasons why Kenyan mothers died

Every day, 13 women in Kenya lose their lives to pregnancy-related complications. A number that is too too high. This is despite decades of interventions which include government programs, advocacy and thousands of NGO projects. Through the Wanjiku Kumbukumbu series, I captured the stories of:

  • Mothers who bled to death after delivery (post-partum haemorrhage)
  • Mothers who didn’t survive high blood pressure complications (preeclampsia)
  • Mothers who didn’t survive caesarean section complications
  • Mothers who died because of delays in accessing quality care (even within the hospital)
  • Mothers whose families are still searching for answers

Below are the women whose names and faces that I captured in the Wanjiku Kumbukumbu series in 2025. Their stories represent those of other mothers who lost their lives this year.

Why I will continue the Wanjiku Kumbukumbu series

Beyond 2025, I will continue with the Wanjiku Kumbukumbu series because I believe that continually raising awareness about maternal health through storytelling is important. It keeps reminding us of the gravity of the situation, in the hope that we can do better for Kenya’s mothers because every woman deserves to survive childbirth. I hope that the stories will:

  • Show that maternal deaths are not just about statistics. This is because behind each number is a beautiful woman who has left behind a huge gap
  • Get people to act on matters that will ensure that fewer families experience the pain that comes with losing a mother to childbirth complications
  • Inspire collective advocacy and accountability in our health systems, policy spaces, in our families and in the communities. Especially considering that most maternal deaths are preventable

Many thanks to every reader who followed this series, made a comment, shared the articles, reached out with information, or simply took a moment to reflect. Your reading, sharing, and engagement throughout the year helped amplify the voices of these women and their families. Thank you for being part of this journey and for supporting the Wanjiku Kumbukumbu project.

As we step into a new year, I pray that we will carry the memory of these mothers with us. I hope that their stories will strengthen our resolve to ensure that future mothers will live to raise their children.

I invite you to join me in this journey. If you would like to support the Wanjiku Kumbukumbu project, please reach me on maryanne@mummytales.com

Sincerely,
Maryanne W. Waweru –Founder, Mummy Tales

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

How one Kenyan mother beat a rare life-threatening condition to bring her baby into the world

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0
Nancy Wanjiru Waithaka. Photo: Kenyatta National Hospital.

Pregnancy is often described as a beautiful journey, but for some women, it can also be one filled with fear and uncertainty. This is Nancy’s story, which will give hope to any woman going through a difficult pregnancy journey. 

By Maryanne W. Waweru l maryanne@mummytales.com

When 15-week pregnant Nancy Wanjiru Waithaka was admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), she was battling not just an ordinary pregnancy complication, but a rare and dangerous condition known as bilateral pheochromocytoma.

Bilateral pheochromocytoma is a tumor that causes dangerously high surges of adrenaline –the kind that can push blood pressure to life-threatening levels. For Nancy, this diagnosis was saddening. The condition did not only threaten her life, but also that of her unborn baby. However, she was determined to fight for her baby. Thankfully, the team of medics at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) were, too.

Life-saving care at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH)

Nancy’s treatment included care under a multidisciplinary team of specialists from KNH’s materno-fetal unit, urology care, endocrinology, and cardiac anaesthesiology departments.

For six months, they walked with Nancy in her treatment journey. The medical care included balancing her hormonal levels, controlling dangerous blood pressure spikes, and closely monitoring both she and her baby through several ICU stays.

Then, at 26 weeks of pregnancy, the doctors performed a complex and delicate surgery that included removing the adrenal tumors (one partially, one completely). It was a risky procedure, but one which was necessary to save her life and her baby’s.

A miraculous birth

Finally, after months filled with great tension, months of close monitoring and round-the-clock care, Nancy safely delivered her baby boy through a Caesarean section at 33 weeks and five days.

Holding her little one for the first time was a moment she will never forget.

“I was blessed with my boy, and so happy to see him and hold him. It’s a miracle,” she said with a radiant smile.

Today, both mother and baby are doing well. Congratulations to Nancy and the dedicated team of doctors and support staff at Kenyatta National Hospital who made this miracle happen.

May her story inspire every pregnant woman having a difficult pregnancy. May your journey end well, just like Nancy’s.

Also read: Kenyan doctors perform record-breaking gigantomastia surgery at Kenyatta National Hospital

Source: KNH.

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

Where to Find Coding Classes for Kids in Nairobi, Kenya

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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By Maryanne W. Waweru

In today’s digital age, it is very important that children learn how to effectively communicate with a computer which in other words, is called ‘coding’. And the earlier they learn how to code, the better for them since it sets them up for their future success -both in academics, their life skills, and in the workforce.

So, I thought of putting together a list of coding schools in Nairobi where your children can access coding skills. This list is not exhaustive, so if there’s any that I’ve left out you can let me know in the comments section below and I’ll add it.

  1. Moringa School
  2. Smart Brains Kenya – 0793 47 47 47
  3. Code Yetu – 0720511515
  4. @iLabAfrica – 0703 034 616
  5. Techsavanna Software Institute – 0799 099 099
  6. DigiKids – WhatsApp 0799 710 693
  7. Funke Science – 0726 116 976 
  8. Tinker Education – 0715 978986
  9. AkiraChix – 0723 93596
  10. Little Einsteins – 0729 715622
  11. Ubunifu Kids – 0727 634 101
  12. UCMAS Kenya – 0780 999 903
  13. Code With Kids Africa – 0720 123 456
  14. Teckid Kenya
  15. Class Measures Limited (Kevin Muriuki) 0712 675 858
  16. Ndehi Karonjo 0722 734 085

Did I miss out on others? Leave their names, links to website and telephone number in the comments section below and I’ll update the list. You can also email me on maryanne@mummytales.com

NB: This post has been updated from the original one published in 2021.

Mummy Tales 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 INSTAGRAM l TWITTER

Cover images: Iwaria

Dorcas Nzisa: a young Kenyan mother who lost her life to childbirth complications

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0
dorcas-nzisa-kariuki-wabera
The late Dorcas Nzisa Kariuki. Photo -screengrab: Kerax Media Production.

This article highlights the maternal death of Dorcas Nzisa Kariuki, a young Kenyan mother who passed away after developing complications from a caesarean section delivery. This is story 12 in the Wanjiku Kumbukumbu series by Mummy Tales, an initiative that is documenting maternal deaths in Kenya. 

By Maryanne W. Waweru l maryanne@mummytales.com

Dorcas Nzisa Kariuki was born on 26 July 2000 in Kauwi, Kitui County. Sadly, Dorcas passed away on Sunday, 31 August 2025, after developing complications following a caesarean section. Though she successfully delivered her second child -a beautiful baby girl, Dorcas, unfortunately, did not make it.

Dorcas was a young mother who was full of ambition and purpose. Through her blog, Mdosi Online, she used her voice to inform, inspire, and empower others, touching the lives of many with her words and positivity. Dorcas had a bright future, with so much to achieve. Sadly, childbirth complications took her away.

Maternal deaths in Kenya

Every day, 13 Kenyan women die from pregnancy-related and childbirth complications. But these women are more than just numbers in a report. They are daughters, sisters, friends, and mothers. They are women with dreams, laughter, and love. Women like Dorcas, who had so much more life to live.

It shouldn’t be this way though. No woman should lose her life while giving life. So let’s continue to raise awareness, demand better maternal healthcare, and support initiatives that ensure every woman in Kenya can experience safe pregnancy and childbirth.

Documenting maternal deaths in Kenya

The unfortunate death of Dorcas is the twelfth account in 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. 

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

Read more Wanjiku Kumbukumbu articles:

  1. The death of Eunice Njoki, 27, from excessive bleeding after childbirth
  2. Phyllis Wanjiru, 33, succumbs after caesarean section complications
  3. Faith Binzali, 26, succumbs to a caesarean section gone wrong
  4. Mumbi’s death from retained placenta complications
  5. Barbara Mkok, 38, succumbs to pre-eclampsia complications
  6. Stella Mtira Wangama, 33, succumbs to post-caesarean section complications
  7. Magdalene Njoki Mburu, 36, and her death from uterine rupture complications
  8. Immaculate Akinyi Kirui, 40, dies from childbirth complications 
  9. Elizabeth Wairimu, 27, dies from pulmonary embolism
  10. Phanice Kerubo, 27, dies from alleged neglect while in labour at hospital  
  11. Vanessa Wanjiku, 26, dies after caesarean section delivery 

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

Kenyan doctors perform record-breaking gigantomastia surgery at Kenyatta National Hospital

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0
gigantomastia surgery Kenya
Photo: KNH.

A team of dedicated surgeons and medical staff at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) have given a 17-year-old girl the gift of a normal life. In a landmark procedure believed to be the largest of its kind in the world, the team successfully removed 20.86 kilograms of breast tissue from Lydia Musivi, who suffered from a severe and rare condition known as gigantomastia.

By Maryanne W. Waweru I maryanne@mummytales.com

17-year-old Lydia Musivi from Mwingi, Kitui County, can now smile again, thanks to a dedicated team of doctors at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) who performed a record-breaking surgery that has changed her life forever.

For 18 months, Lydia lived with a rare condition known as gigantomastia, which caused her breasts to grow uncontrollably. The weight, which was equivalent to 37% of her body mass, made her every movement to be excruciatingly painful. Walking, standing, and even breathing were a struggle for the teenager. Sadly, Lydia had to drop out of school as the weight of the burden she was carrying was too much.

But on September 22, 2025, Lydia’s life turned around. A team of doctors led by Dr. Benjamin Wabwire, Head of Specialized Surgery and Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at KNH, in a highly complex surgery successfully removed 20.86 kilograms of breast tissue from her. This is a world record for the largest gigantomastia surgery ever performed.

When Lydia woke up from the 11-hour surgery, she said she felt “free, lighter, and ready to return to school.” Her dream of becoming a high school teacher also seemed possible again.

The relief was also felt by her mother, Naomi Mutendwa, who had spent months searching for help as she witnessed her daughter’s health and confidence fade away.

“I watched my daughter disappear under the weight of this illness. We felt hopeless until we were referred to KNH from Garissa County Referral Hospital. The KNH team saw the girl, not just the condition. They didn’t just treat her; they gave me back my daughter. They have given her a second chance at life,” she said.

Lydia has now been discharged and is recovering well. Come January 2026, she plans to return to school and continue with her studies, her dream of becoming a teacher stronger than ever.

Source: KNH.

Have you or someone you know faced a life-changing medical journey? Share your experience in the comments or email me at maryanne@mummytales.com -your story could inspire another woman to keep going.

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

How a young Kenyan mother, Stacy Adhiambo, lost her uterus at just 23

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0
Stacy Adhiambo photo screengrab: Defrontera

At only 23 years old, Stacy Adhiambo faced every mother’s worst nightmare; a childbirth emergency that cost her her uterus. Despite following all medical advice and doing everything right, a series of delays and system failures during labor nearly claimed her life. Stacy’s story is a reminder of the urgent need to strengthen maternal healthcare in Kenya.

By Maryanne W. Waweru l maryanne@mummytales.com

Stacy Adhiambo, a young mother from Homa Bay County in western Kenya, went through childbirth complications that changed her life forever. At just 23 years old, she lost her uterus despite having done ‘everything right’ during her pregnancy.

From the moment she discovered she was expecting, Stacy was thrilled. Her pregnancy was smooth, and she faithfully attended all her antenatal clinic appointments. She followed medical advice and took every precaution to ensure both her safety and that of her baby. Stacy eagerly looked forward to a safe delivery and a healthy baby.

When labour pains began, Stacy knew what to do. She went to Makongeni Sub-County Hospital, Homa Bay, at around 7am, where she was told she was already 9 cm dilated. However, her labour soon developed complications, prompting an emergency referral to Homa Bay Teaching and Referral Hospital (HBTRH).

But what should have been a swift transfer turned into a harrowing ordeal. It took nearly an hour for the ambulance to arrive and when it finally did, it ran out of fuel just outside the hospital gate. Stacy was forced to pay KSh 1,000 (about USD 7.80) so that the driver could fetch fuel by motorbike. This caused yet another 30-minute delay.

By the time she reached HBTRH at around 10:30am, Stacy was in immense pain. At midday, she was fully dilated but still unable to deliver. Doctors recommended an emergency caesarean section. Yet even then, she had to wait several more hours because no surgical team was immediately available. Stacy only entered the operating theatre at 5pm.

Uterine rupture in Kenya

While her baby was safely delivered, Stacy’s ordeal was far from over. She began bleeding profusely due to a uterine rupture, a life-threatening complication. Doctors had no choice but to perform an emergency subtotal hysterectomy. This is a procedure that involves removal of the uterus while leaving the cervix intact, primarily to save the mother’s life.

Also read: Magdalene Mburu’s death from uterine rupture complications

As Stacy was moved from the recovery room to the ward, she faced yet another challenge: there was no blood available for transfusion. In desperation, she and her family had to mobilize friends and relatives to donate blood, as the hospital also scrambled to source some.

Maternal health in Kenya

Stacy’s experience is a painful reminder of how multiple small delays can add up to life-threatening consequences. A lack of ambulance fuel, delayed surgery, staff shortages, and inadequate blood supplies all compounded to create a near-tragic outcome.

Her story underscores the reality that even when a woman does ‘everything right’ during pregnancy, systemic failures within the healthcare system can still lead to devastating results.

Thankfully, Stacy survived to tell her story. Many other mothers are not as fortunate.

Information source: Defrontera.

Also read: A teenage mother in Kenya nearly lost her life in childbirth -here’s how we saved her

If you would like to share information about maternal health in Kenya, you may 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

The circumstances surrounding the maternal death of Eunice Njoki

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0
maternal-deaths-in-Kenya
The late Eunice Njoki. Photo: screengrab, Citizen TV Kenya

This article highlights the maternal death of 27-year-old Eunice Njoki Mborothi, who passed away after developing childbirth complications in a Nairobi hospital. This is story eleven in the Wanjiku Kumbukumbu series by Mummy Tales, an initiative that is documenting maternal deaths in Kenya. 

By Maryanne W. Waweru l maryanne@mummytales.com

Eunice Njoki Mborothi, 27, and her husband eagerly awaited the birth of their third child. According to her husband, Samuel, she diligently attended her antenatal clinics at Kayole II Level 4 Hospital in Nairobi. The facility had also assured the couple that it was fully equipped to manage her delivery, and she was booked to give birth there.

Samuel recalls that the doctors had identified Njoki’s pregnancy as high-risk from as early as her third month. Because of this, the medical team monitored her closely throughout her pregnancy. By the time her delivery date arrived, she had been given a clean bill of health, giving reassurance to the young couple as they prepared to welcome their baby.

On 30 August 2025, Njoki delivered a healthy baby girl. However, moments after childbirth, she began to bleed heavily. Despite the prior awareness of her high-risk status and the reassurances that her delivery would be well-managed, Samuel says the team at Kayole II Level 4 Hospital appeared unprepared for the emergency.

Njoki was then referred to Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, located about five kilometres away. Sadly, less than an hour after her arrival, Samuel was informed that his wife had passed away.

Could Njoki’s death have been prevented?

Watch Samuel’s narration of the events below.

The unfortunate death of Njoki is the eleventh account in 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:

  1. Phyllis Wanjiru, 33, succumbs after caesarean section complications
  2. Faith Binzali, 26, succumbs to a caesarean section gone wrong
  3. Mumbi’s death from retained placenta complications
  4. Barbara Mkok, 38, succumbs to pre-eclampsia complications
  5. Stella Mtira Wangama, 33, succumbs to post-caesarean section complications
  6. Magdalene Njoki Mburu, 36, and her death from uterine rupture complications
  7. Immaculate Akinyi Kirui, 40, dies from childbirth complications 
  8. Elizabeth Wairimu, 27, dies from pulmonary embolism
  9. Phanice Kerubo, 27, dies from alleged neglect while in labour at hospital  
  10. Vanessa Wanjiku, 26, dies after caesarean section delivery 

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

 

Phyllis Wanjiru’s death after Caesarean section: documenting maternal deaths in Kenya

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0
maternal-deaths-in-Kenya
The late Phyllis Wanjiru, who succumbed to caesarean section complications. Photo courtesy: Joseph Wanyonyi on X.

This article highlights the maternal death of Phyllis Wanjiru, a young Kenyan mother who passed away after developing complications from a caesarean section delivery. This is story ten in the Wanjiku Kumbukumbu series by Mummy Tales, an initiative that is documenting maternal deaths in Kenya. 

By Maryanne W. Waweru l maryanne@mummytales.com

Every day, 13 women in Kenya lose their lives to pregnancy and childbirth-related complications. Each day, 13 families are left grieving the loss of a loved one who died while bringing new life into the world. One such family is that of 33-year-old Phyllis Wanjiru, who tragically passed away on 10 September 2025 from childbirth complications.

According to her husband, Joseph Wanyonyi, Phyllis developed complications after undergoing a caesarean section at St. Teresa Hospital in Kikuyu, Kiambu County. He says that while his wife successfully delivered their beautiful baby girl, she began bleeding heavily after the surgery, an emergency situation that necessitated her transfer to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).

Sadly, Phyllis did not survive.

A postmortem conducted on 15 September 2025 revealed that Phyllis died from excessive bleeding. She likely suffered postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) -severe blood loss after childbirth. PPH is the leading cause of maternal deaths in Kenya. Sadly, most PPH-related deaths are preventable.

Wanyonyi has since accused St. Teresa Hospital, Kikuyu of alleged medical negligence. He believes his wife’s death could have been prevented. The matter is now under investigation.

Deaths from caesarean sections in Kenya

Phyllis’s story is not an isolated tragedy. Just two weeks ago, Faith Binzali, 26, similarly died from caesarean section complications at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Health Center in Kangemi, Nairobi County. Postmortem results revealed that Faith died from hypoxia (lack of oxygen), likely caused by the anaesthetic drug administered on her.

The deaths of these two young mothers are a sad, stark reminder of the urgent need to strengthen maternal healthcare systems in Kenya. This, in a bid to ensure that no woman dies while giving life, and that no family has to endure such heartbreak.

The unfortunate death of Phyllis is the tenth account in 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:

  1. Faith Binzali’s death from caesarean section gone wrong
  2. Mumbi’s death from retained placenta complications
  3. Barbara Mkok’s passing from pre-eclampsia complications
  4. Stella Mtira Wangama’s death from post-caesarean section complications
  5. Magdalene Njoki Mburu’s passing from uterine rupture complications
  6. Mwalimu Immaculate Akinyi Kirui’s death from childbirth complications after delivering quadruplets 
  7. Elizabeth Wairimu’s death from pulmonary embolism at age 27
  8. Phanice Kerubo, 27, dies from childbirth complications 
  9. 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

Kenyan woman dies after Caesarean section goes wrong: documenting maternal deaths in Kenya

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0
Faith-Binzali
Faith's husband, Alex Ndung'u (in black jacket) mourns her loss. Photo credit: The Standard.

This article highlights the maternal death of Faith Binzali, a young mother who passed away on the operating table while undergoing a caesarean section delivery. This is story nine of the Wanjiku Kumbukumbu project by Mummy Tales, an initiative that is documenting maternal deaths in Kenya. 

By Maryanne W. Waweru l maryanne@mummytales.com

What was meant to be a joyful moment for 26-year-old Faith Binzali and her family quickly turned into tragedy when she died on the operating table while undergoing a caesarean section delivery at St. Joseph The Worker Catholic Health Centre in Kangemi, Nairobi County. Faith passed away on Tuesday 2 September 2025. It was her first child.

Her husband, Alex Ndung’u, said that his wife walked into the health facility in good health and with no complications. Sadly, she was never to return home.

Her father, Bernard Babu, believes her death was the result of medical negligence, saying that the staff’s poor handling of the procedure caused a preventable tragedy.

When Bernard entered the operating room, he was met with a horrific scene. Blood was splattered across the walls and floor, with his daughter’s lifeless body soaked in blood. Bernard also noted that blood was spilling from her mouth.

According to Bernard, the health workers offered no explanation to the grieving family about what had transpired. Instead, they fled the hospital, leaving Faith’s loved ones devastated and traumatized.

Autopsy report on Faith Binzali

A postmortem on Faith conducted on 4 September 2025 established that she died from lack of oxygen in the brain (hypoxia) while on the operating table –a likely complication from the anaesthetic drug that was administered to her. It is reported that excessive anaesthetic drugs were used on her, in addition to an overdose of other drugs given to her before the surgery.

The family has since reported the matter to the police.

13 Kenyan women die daily from pregnancy-related and childbirth complications. Sadly, most of these deaths are preventable.

It is worth noting that St. Joseph The Worker Catholic Health Centre had previously been blacklisted by the now-defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) over false claims.

*The above information’s source is KTN News Kenya. Watch the videos below for more details.

 

The unfortunate death of Faith is the ninth account in 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:

  1. Mumbi’s death from retained placenta complications
  2. Barbara Mkok’s passing from pre-eclampsia complications
  3. Stella Mtira Wangama’s death from post-caesarean section complications
  4. Magdalene Njoki Mburu’s passing from uterine rupture complications
  5. Mwalimu Immaculate Akinyi Kirui’s death from childbirth complications after delivering quadruplets 
  6. Elizabeth Wairimu’s death from pulmonary embolism at age 27
  7. Phanice Kerubo, 27, dies from childbirth complications 
  8. 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

How complications from a retained placenta claimed Mumbi’s life: documenting maternal deaths in Kenya

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0
maternal-death-stories-in-Kenya

By Maryanne W. Waweru l maryanne@mummytales.com

In June 2025, a young mother, Mumbi, lost her life in a hospital in Mukurweini, Nyeri county, after delivering her baby. According to Mumbi’s cousin, the admission process when she arrived at the hospital at night went smoothly. Her labour also progressed well, which led to the birth of her daughter. She had a vaginal delivery.

However, the delivery of the placenta after Mumbi’s vaginal birth presented a challenge, as it appeared to be a case of a ‘retained placenta’. This happens when the placenta (or parts of it) remains in the uterus after delivery, failing to be expelled within a certain timeframe (usually from 5 – 30 minutes). If not managed well, a retained placenta can lead to life-threatening blood loss (postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) or severe infection. The consequences can be fatal.

Sadly, a few hours after delivery, Mumbi lost her life. She suffered excessive blood loss. Her newborn daughter survived.

According to her cousin, the family believes that Mumbi could have been better managed by the attending clinicians when the complication of the retained placenta arose. The family alleges that Mumbi’s life could have been saved had her situation been treated with the emergency care that it deserved. Listen to Mumbi’s cousin narrate the incident that led to her demise below.

@hellennjeri42

♬ original sound – bi.Maina

13 Kenyan women die daily from pregnancy-related complications. Sadly, most of these deaths are preventable.

The unfortunate death of Mumbi is the eighth account in 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:

  1. Barbara Mkok’s passing from pre-eclampsia complications
  2. Stella Mtira Wangama’s death from post-caesarean section complications
  3. Magdalene Njoki Mburu’s passing from uterine rupture complications
  4. Mwalimu Immaculate Akinyi Kirui’s death from childbirth complications after delivering quadruplets 
  5. Elizabeth Wairimu’s death from pulmonary embolism at age 27
  6. Phanice Kerubo, 27, dies from childbirth complications 
  7. 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

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