Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire has dismissed reports that five children died at the Embu Level 5 hospital following a nationwide power outage on Friday night.
Activist Boniface Mwangi on Saturday shared online photos of alleged messages from a father who lost a child at the centre.
The father had shared what he claimed was a receipt for payment of money over the phone for a funeral permit at the hospital.
But in a social media post on Saturday, Governor Mbarire called the report “not only misleading but untrue.” She said only one premature baby died in the center in the last 48 hours.
”My attention has been drawn by Boniface Mwangi’s social media post on Twitter alleging that “5 children have died at Embu Hospital, Unnecessary, avoidable deaths.” This information is not only misleading but non-factual. We therefore refute this allegation, the purpose of which is unknown.
Data from Embu Level 5 hospital (attached) shows that sadly, only one (1) premature baby (born at 21 weeks) died in the last 48 hours.”
She added;
“There were 20 deliveries out of which 8 C/Ss. All the children are in good health. The hospital has five (5) standby generators that are working so the nationwide blackout did not interfere with operations.
The public is therefore advised to disregard and disregard such misleading and threatening publications that are not supported by facts. We invite Boniface Mwangi to come or contact the Department of Health to confirm this information. In Embu, we take health very seriously,” Mbarire wrote on her Facebook page.
The power outage on Friday lasted for 12 hours and saw business services as well as operations at key government facilities such as the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi stopped.
Transport Minister Kipchumba Murkomen fired the Director General of the National Airports Authority (KAA) Alex Gitari and the General Manager of Projects and Engineering Services, Fred Odawo, following the incident.
Meanwhile, the power generation company Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) and the power distribution company Kenya Power (KPLC) have faced accusations about power outages.
