Tension flared at Ruiru Sub-County Hospital in Kiambu County Thursday June 18, 2026 after Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a led a group of protesters to the facility demanding the immediate release of new mothers allegedly detained over unpaid medical bills.
The protesters stormed the hospital, chanting, “Mothers are going home today!”
Reports indicated that around 40 mothers were detained in one ward, with at least 24 of them having stayed at the facility for three to four months together with their newborns due to outstanding bills.
Following the protests and public outcry, the mothers were eventually released. Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has pledged to clear all the outstanding medical bills.
The incident has sparked fresh debate over the controversial practice of detaining patients due to unpaid hospital bills.
