Homa Bay: Woman Abandons Baby In Hospital 2 Days After Giving Birth

• A 28-year-old woman reportedly abandoned her newborn baby at St Paul's Mission Hospital two days after birth in Homa Bay county
• The woman told hospital staff that she was going to pick up baby items from a relative who was not far away from the health facility
• Homa Bay county police commander Samson Ole Kine said police have begun searching for her through the information she provided during admission

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Homa Bay: A 28-year-old woman is currently being sought by authorities after leaving her two-day-old baby at St. Paul's Mission Hospital.

According to the hospital's matron, Julia Wesonga, the woman was reported to have given birth on the road. However, upon admission, her health was stabilised.

"The placenta had detached. We were told that she delivered along the road. The baby girl weighed 2.5 kg," Wesonga explained.

As reported by Nation, the woman was rushed to the health facility by a security guard who found her stranded near a petrol station along Kendu Bay-Homa Bay Road after she ran into labour.

How did she escape?

According to the hospital administration, the woman told the security guard and the nurse that she was going to get clothes for her newborn baby from a relative who was a few metres away from the facility.

Leaving her baby under the care of the hospital's management, she was allowed out, never to be seen again.

“She told the security that the person who brought the clothes was a few metres from the gate, so she was allowed to go,” she added.

Police conduct search for the new mother

The case was reported to the Homa Bay police station and the Children's Service Department.

The county police commander, Samson Ole Kine, said they have launched a manhunt for the new mother based on the information she provided during admission.

“We have intensified the search for the woman. We are combing through information we have gathered to bring her to book,” police said.

Woman gives birth in hospital latrine, abandons baby

In March, a woman was reported to have given birth at a hospital's pit latrine in Embu county before leaving the little one at the scene of birth.

A politician who had gone to use the latrine found the baby, named him, and showered the newborn with gifts as he teamed up with the hospital management to search for and help the unidentified mother.

"We are delighted that the baby was rescued and is in good care at the same hospital. The healthcare workers and witnesses named the baby after me when I showed up on a mission to know what had happened.

We are looking for the mother of this boy to help her. While we believe it was not right to throw away the baby. We would like to know her to establish the reason for the unfortunate decision," he said.