Newborn detained at Kenyatta National Hospital over bill

Sophia Moraa with her two-month-old baby Abigail (also inset) who was discharged on December 28, but the hospital has not released her because of an outstanding bill. [PHOTOS: WILBERFORCE OKWIRI/STANDARD]

NAIROBI: The little angel has defied many odds to be alive. She looks fragile and innocent, but a fighter nonetheless. She lifts her tiny legs and hands, unaware that despite winning the battle of being born too soon, she faces another hurdle. Nine week old baby Abigail Mwende has been detained at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) because of a Sh322,675 bill for exactly two months now.

“I gave birth to Mwende on November 23 last year and she was 1.2kgs. She was very tiny, but she looked like a fighter. I knew she would pull through,” the mother Sophia Moraa shares.