Mama Lucy Hospital staff cleared in baby's death

Mama Lucy Hospital in Nairobi. (Photo: File)

An investigation into the death of an infant at Mama Lucy Hospital has cleared medical officials of negligence.

A taskforce constituted by Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero to probe the death of baby Dominic Otieno in February said in its report that the team was satisfied with the care given to the patient.

The chairman of the 11-member taskforce, Philip Kungu, said having consulted with the parents of the deceased, hospital staff and everyone else that was involved, they were satisfied that the death was not due to negligence.

"We are satisfied that the care given to Master Otieno was adequate during his stay at the hospital. Having being transferred from another facility, he came in critically ill and the doctors did all they could to make him comfortable but unfortunately, he succumbed," said Mr Kungu.

Otieno passed away at the hospital after waiting for five hours for an ambulance to take him to Kenyatta National Hospital for specialised treatment.

Kungu blamed lack of an intensive care unit at Mama Lucy Hospital as the root cause of Otieno's death, saying had there been one, then the doctors would have been able to save his life.