By Miraj Guo, June 23, 2026
Residents of Hola town in Tana River County staged protests outside Hola County Referral Hospital on Tuesday after a pregnant woman reportedly delivered outside the maternity wing following allegations that she failed to receive immediate medical attention upon arriving at the facility.
The incident sparked outrage among members of the public, who accused the hospital administration of negligence and demanded urgent intervention from county health authorities.
Witnesses said the expectant mother arrived at the hospital while in active labour but was allegedly unable to access prompt care. According to residents, she ended up giving birth outside the maternity entrance, an incident that quickly attracted crowds and triggered demonstrations outside the facility.
Angry protesters gathered at the hospital compound, condemning what they described as poor service delivery and the failure of health workers to respond swiftly to emergency cases.
“What happened here is unacceptable. A mother should never be left to give birth outside a hospital gate. We want answers and immediate action,” said one of the protesters.
Residents said the incident reflects long-standing challenges that have plagued the county referral hospital and raised concerns over the quality of healthcare services being offered to patients.
Many accused the facility of recurring delays in handling emergency cases and called for accountability from hospital management and county officials responsible for health services.
The latest protests also revived complaints that have repeatedly been raised by residents regarding shortages of essential drugs and medical supplies at the hospital. Patients have in the past complained of being forced to purchase medicine from private pharmacies after failing to obtain treatment at the public facility.
Residents further pointed to inadequate laboratory services, saying patients are frequently referred to private clinics for tests before returning with results for treatment.
Infrastructure challenges have also continued to affect operations at the hospital, with concerns being raised over the condition of several departments, including maternity and emergency units. Healthcare workers have previously staged strikes over delayed salaries and poor working conditions, disruptions that have negatively affected service delivery.
Protesters called on the Tana River County Government and the Ministry of Health to launch immediate investigations into the incident and take disciplinary action against those found culpable.
They also demanded increased staffing levels, improved emergency response systems, adequate medical supplies and the expansion of maternity facilities to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
Local leaders appealed for calm and urged residents to allow investigations to proceed, saying the matter would be addressed through the appropriate channels.
County health officials are expected to issue a statement explaining the circumstances surrounding the incident and outlining measures being taken to improve healthcare services at the facility.
The demonstrations once again highlight the challenges facing public healthcare institutions in many parts of the country, with residents insisting that urgent reforms are needed to restore confidence in the health sector and ensure expectant mothers receive timely and dignified care.
As investigations continue, residents say they expect concrete action from authorities to prevent a repeat of an incident they described as both tragic and unacceptable.
