One of Nakuru malnourished triplets dead as others admitted

Ms Julia wamaitha during the interview at her home in Karunga in Bahati, Nakuru on May 15, 2017. One of her malnourished triplets died on Monday morning while undergoing treatment at the Bahati Sub County Hospital. Photo/Suleiman Mbatiah

One of the malnourished triplets whose plight The Standard highlighted last week has died.

The story said the parents could not afford to feed the children due to the high food prices. 

Eleven-month-old Paul Micheal died at the Bahati sub-county hospital, a day after he was diagnosed with pneumonia and rickets. His siblings were admitted to the same hospital.

Dominic Wamweiga's family's shocking story was covered by this newspaper as part of its reporting on how families in several parts of the country are struggling to make ends as a result of high food prices.

The children from Karuga village had been diagnosed with severe malnutrition and doctors advised their parents, Julia Wamaitha and Mr Wamweigwa, to give them a balanced diet.

According to their clinic cards, the children had several times been referred to a nutritionist because of their slow development due to lack of a balanced diet.

When The Standard visited the family, neighbours had started trickling in to comfort them. Peter Ngoto, one of the triplets, had a fever and was vomiting.

The parents last week narrated how they had gone through hard times since they were displaced from their home in Kuresoi, Nakuru County, during the 2007 post-election violence.

"It has been hard for us since we moved from our home to look for casual jobs after being displaced. Currently we are living on someone's farm and do manual jobs for a living," Mr Wamweiga said.

On a good day, Wamweiga earns Sh200, which is barely enough to buy food for the children.

With the price of basic commodities sky-rocketing, the family cannot afford meals, affecting the growth of the children who are still breastfeeding. Their mother, who is supposed to eat at least three meals a day to supplement the children's food with breast milk, looks weak.

"Doctors recommended that the children be fed at least five times a day since they are underweight and are poor feeders. They take three litres of milk a day. There are also medical expenses, including multi-vitamins to help boost their appetite, but we can barely raise the amount," Julia said.

Wamaitha stays at home to attend to the children while her husband goes out to look for menial jobs.

Last month during a visit to an antenatal clinic, the triplets weighed 4.6, 4.7, and 6 kilogrammes and doctors advised the parents to improve the children's diet and take them for weekly therapy sessions as they could barely walk.

Wamaitha is breast-feeding but eats only one meal in a day.

"This has slowed the growth of the children but we do not have an option. My husband works very hard to feed us but the money is still too little since the children also need clothing and other basic needs," she said.