Nakuru quintuplets buried in one coffin

The coffin carrying the bodies of the quintuplets who died in Nakuru on February 2, 2023. [Joseph Kipsang, Standard]

The quintuplets who died at the Nakuru Level 5 Hospital on Thursday, February 2, a few hours after birth, were on Friday, February 3 buried at the Nakuru South Cemetery.

The deceased babies' father Simon Ndungu and several drivers of the 2NK Sacco, Ndung's employer, attended the burial.

The babies' mother, Margaret Wairimu, did not attend the interment as she was still admitted to the Nakuru Level 5 Hospital following post-birth complications and trauma.

The Standard understands that Wairimu is scheduled for discharge later Friday, February 3.

The babies' bodies had been preserved at the Nakuru Level 5 Hospital morgue.

Bodies of the four girls and a boy were dressed in bright clothes and kept in one coffin for interment.

Francis Kamau, the uncle of Simon Ndungu, the babies' father, expressed his gratitude to Kenyans for supporting the family during the difficult period.

"We have seen the great love from different people in Kenya. Many Kenyans came with their gifts, but unfortunately we lost the children," Kamau said at the burial site.

Kamau further said the babies' mother, Wairimu, was in need of counselling and trauma management.

"She has been a good daughter-in-law. This tragedy has left her badly devastated," he said.

On his part, Wairimu's uncle Daniel Wanganga said he was saddened that he wasn't going to be a "grandfather of six" following the deaths of the babies.

Wairimu and Ndungu have an elder child, a 4-year-old girl, who is their firstborn.

"The young babies left even before I met them, but we thank God for bringing them into our lives, though briefly," he said.

Irene Njoki, the MP of Bahati Constituency, where Ndungu and Wairimu hail from, said she will support the grieving family.

"We were ready to support the family in taking care of the children. That they have passed on, does not mean we change our position. I will still be there for them," she said in a statement read out by her representative.

The five babies, who were born on Tuesday, January 31, died on Thursday, February 2.

Doctors said they were born pre-term (25 weeks), thus complicating their survival chances.