The Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret is facing a storm of criticism after claims that new mothers are being detained over unpaid Social Health Authority (SHA) fees and that patients are being served leftover food. A viral TikTok video and a detailed exposé by the Daily Nation have forced the hospital into the spotlight. MTRH has attempted to distance itself from the allegations, but its fumbling response has raised even more questions about how patients are treated inside Kenya’s second-largest referral hospital. MTRH Chief Executive Officer, Philip Kirwa, released a statement dismissing claims of unlawful detention. He argued that delays in discharge were not detention but rather a result of incomplete SHA processes. [PHOTO//Courtesy] MTRH Detains New Mothers Amid SHA Confusion On September 18, the Daily Nation published a damning exposé revealing overcrowded maternity wards, where new mothers are allegedly detained due to pending SHA registration or unpaid premiums. According to the report, beds are shared, patients are sleeping in shifts, and others are forced to lie on the floor.
One mother, Melvin Nyagoha, just 22 years old, told the publication that she and other mothers were forced to share one bed. She described being unable to buy even basic items like diapers and soap. “We sleep in shifts. Sometimes three people share one bed, while others sleep on the floor. We have no diapers, no soap, no basic necessities. We have no money here to buy those items,” she said.
The exposé further highlighted that the so-called Riley Mothers and Baby Hospital Wing, meant to provide safe care, had become a holding area for struggling families. TikTok videos supported the claims, showing new mothers stuck in the facility not because of medical reasons, but because they lacked money or official documents to complete SHA registration.
In response, MTRH Chief Executive Officer, Philip Kirwa, released a statement dismissing claims of unlawful detention. He argued that delays in discharge were not detention but rather a result of incomplete SHA processes.
According to him, missing ID cards, unprocessed birth certificates, and unpaid premiums were the real cause. Kirwa urged patients to ensure timely registration to avoid such “disruptions.” Yet his words offered little comfort.
To many Kenyans, the hospital appeared to be hiding behind bureaucracy while ignoring the suffering of vulnerable mothers and newborns. Allegations of Leftover Meals in MTRH Beyond the issue of detained mothers, the hospital also stands accused of feeding patients leftover meals. The Daily Nation exposé reported that patients claimed the food was poor and sometimes recycled. Such allegations painted a grim picture of a facility that should be a pillar of health care in the region. MTRH , however, denied the claims outright. CEO Kirwa insisted that all meals, supplies, and services at the hospital meet the required standards. He said no patient is ever served leftovers and described the allegations as misleading.
But for many, his denial only fueled more suspicion. The hospital’s statement failed to address why so many patients told similar stories to reporters and on video. If patients were lying, critics argue, why would their stories align so closely?
The controversy over food quality goes beyond taste or preference. Poor meals for recovering mothers and sick patients raise serious questions about nutrition, hygiene, and dignity in public health facilities. A Hospital Under Pressure While MTRH insists that no one is being detained unlawfully, it did admit that congestion in wards remains a challenge. The hospital receives a large number of patients who could otherwise be treated at lower-level facilities, creating pressure on both space and resources.
Kirwa also explained that teenage mothers without national IDs are sometimes issued temporary identification documents to speed up SHA registration. He claimed this measure prevents unnecessary delays in discharging young mothers.
But critics argue that the excuses miss the bigger picture. MTRH is a national referral hospital. Its role is not just to provide treatment but also to set the standard for care. When mothers report being held over unpaid fees and patients claim they are given leftover meals, it points to a deeper crisis in the health system.
The Ministry of Health has been urged to intervene, with calls for an independent investigation into the allegations. Civil society groups argue that detaining new mothers over unpaid bills violates basic human rights. Others warn that poor nutrition and overcrowding in wards could worsen maternal and child health outcomes in a country already struggling with high mortality rates.
For now, MTRH continues to dismiss the allegations, but public confidence has been shaken. Each denial without transparency only raises more doubt. If nothing changes, the stories of mothers sleeping in shifts, babies sharing beds, and patients forced to eat questionable food will linger in the minds of Kenyans for a long time.