Africa-Press – Kenya. Samburu Senator Steve Lelegwe has petitioned the Senate to investigate the alleged rising maternal deaths in the county. Speaking on the Senate floor on Tuesday, Senator Lelegwe described the situation as a consequence of systemic failures in health service delivery.
“The alarming rise in maternal deaths in Samburu County points not to isolated clinical events but to systemic gaps in health service delivery,” he said.
The lawmaker linked the deaths to shortages of skilled personnel, weak emergency response systems, inadequate infrastructure, and gaps in policy implementation.
He warned that most residents in remote and pastoralist areas rely almost entirely on county health facilities. “These incidents raise serious concerns about the right to the highest attainable standard of health under Article 43(1)(a) of the Constitution,” Lelegwe added.
The Senator requested a detailed statement from the Standing Committee on Health to address key concerns. “We need to know the exact number of maternal deaths in Samburu over the last three years, the facilities where they occurred, the medical causes, and whether each case was reviewed under the maternal and postnatal death surveillance framework,” he said.
He also demanded a review of staffing in maternity units. “How many obstetricians, doctors, clinical officers, midwives, anesthetists, and laboratory staff are available in each facility? Are all sub-county hospitals providing 24-hour skilled birth attendance?” he asked.
Hospital preparedness was another major concern. Senator Lelegwe questioned, “Do Suguta Level 4 Hospital and other sub-county hospitals have functional operating theatres, blood transfusion capacity, essential emergency obstetric drugs, and monitoring equipment?”
Emergency referral systems were also under scrutiny. The Senator sought to know the number of ambulances assigned to each sub-county, their operational status, average response times, and whether referrals from maternity units meet national timelines.
Furthermore, he requested information on actions taken following maternal death reviews. “What disciplinary measures, if any, have been implemented? How much budget is allocated to maternal health services? And what is the time-bound plan to prevent recurrence of similar deaths?” he asked.
Health experts have warned that maternal mortality in remote counties like Samburu is aggravated by poor infrastructure, limited access to trained health personnel, and delayed emergency referrals.
National data indicate maternal deaths remain disproportionately high in arid and semi-arid counties, with most cases linked to preventable complications such as hemorrhage, obstructed labor, and infections.
Senator Lelegwe said, “The lives of our mothers cannot wait. We must act decisively to ensure that no woman dies giving life due to avoidable gaps in our health system.”
The call comes amid growing public concern over the quality of maternal health services in marginalized counties, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions to safeguard maternal and child health.
