Bomet County’s Chief Officer for Health, Felix Kipkorir Lang’at, has responded to a disturbing video circulating online showing the death of a child allegedly neglected by hospital staff at Longisa Hospital.
The footage, which has sparked outrage on social media, shows the child writhing on the floor in distress while hospital staff, including nurses, are seen laughing and chatting instead of attending to the emergency.
Kipkorir confirmed the tragic death of the child and assured the public that the county government is actively investigating the incident.
He emphasized that a full report will be released once the investigation is complete.
“We send our condolences to the family of the child and are working closely with the full management.
A detailed chronology of events will be shared soon,” he stated.
He further pledged that actions would be taken if any hospital staff are found negligent, and assured that the truth will come to light after the investigation.
Witnesses claim that two children were rushed to Longisa Hospital after being stung by bees.
While one child received treatment, the other, who was severely injured, was allegedly subjected to financial demands by the hospital.
According to reports, the hospital requested a sh 5,000 payment for ambulance services and an additional sh 80,000 deposit for a referral to Tenwek AGC Hospital.
The family, unable to meet these financial demands, said the nurses ignored the child’s distress, leading to the child’s tragic death.
In the video, the child is seen lying on the hospital floor before being transferred to a bed.
The child is visibly in pain, covered with a lesso and hospital bedding.
The incident has caused public outrage, raising serious concerns about the state of Kenya’s public health system.
This incident has also sparked renewed debate about the newly launched Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
Since its rollout in October, videos have surfaced showing overcrowding and poor conditions in hospitals.
Patients, particularly expectant mothers, have reported sharing beds at Mama Lucy Hospital, with some forced to sleep on the floor.
Patients also complained about being charged sh 1,000 per night for hospital beds, despite not being able to use them.
As the investigation into the Longisa Hospital incident continues, the public is demanding answers and accountability from the health authorities, with many questioning the effectiveness of the new health insurance program in addressing these critical issues.
