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By Maureen Odiwuor
KISUMU, KENYA: A woman patient died at Kisumu District Hospital’s psychiatric department after she was allegedly killed by a man in the same ward.
Her family is still trying to come to terms with her demise which occurred under mysterious circumstances.
Lydia Ondimu, 59 collapsed and died after she was kicked by a male patient and fell on her back.
Her brother in law Mr William Nyandara said he left her in a good condition on Friday and she was even due for discharge the following day.
“In fact I was with the driver who was to take her back to Kisii where she resides that Saturday before I received the shocking news of her death,” he said.
When Nyandara arrived at the hospital, he was pulled aside by the nurse in charge who relayed the sad news to him.
“I was very shocked when the nurse told me my patient had died, 30 minutes before I arrived, yet I left her in perfect condition the previous day,” he said.
He wondered how male and female patients in the psychiatric ward eight were allowed to interact freely.
He said the man suspected to have committed the act explained that they were taking porridge and the deceased showed her private parts to them.
“The man said he was angered and kicked her several times,” said Nyandera.
The hospital management wanted to take the body to the mortuary without involving the police in the matter something that Nyandera refused.
“I personally went and sought police officers to come and investigate the matter which is negligence of patients,” he said.
He said the woman has been having the condition since she gave birth to her first born child son 30 years ago.
Kisumu OCPD Musa Kongoli said he was aware of the existence of the case but was not in town to give the facts.
“I am on assignment out of town, I will give the facts when back,” he said.
Kisumu DCIO Henry Ndombi said the matter is under investigation.
“If we find out it is a case of negligence, then the one who committed the offense will face the law and his mental condition will be confirmed,” he said.
Provincial Medical Director Dr Ojwang Lusi declined to comment of the issues and referred The Standard to the hospital’s Medical Superitendent, Dr Amos Otado.
However, efforts to reach him did not bear any fruit as his phone went unanswered.
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