Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire has forcefully rejected claims suggesting the tragic deaths of five infants at Embu Level 5 Hospital were linked to the nationwide power outage that occurred on Friday night.
The controversy arose when activist Boniface Mwangi shared screenshots of messages he received from a grieving father who purportedly lost a baby at the hospital.
The father had shared what he asserted was a mobile money payment receipt for a burial permit issued by the hospital. However, Governor Mbarire took to social media on Saturday to debunk these reports, labeling them as “misleading and non-factual.”
According to her, only one premature baby had tragically passed away at the facility within the past 48 hours.
Governor Mbarire’s statement outlined the situation in detail. She disclosed that there were a total of 20 deliveries, including 8 Caesarean sections, and reassured the public that all babies were in excellent health.
The hospital boasted five functional standby generators, ensuring that the nationwide power blackout did not disrupt its operations.
Mbarire’s message concluded with an appeal to disregard the unverified and alarming posts circulating on social media, inviting Boniface Mwangi to engage with the Department of Health for accurate verification.
The nationwide blackout, lasting for a daunting 12 hours, impacted various sectors including business services and essential operations at significant state institutions such as Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen took decisive action in response to the incident.
In the aftermath, he announced the dismissal of Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) Managing Director Alex Gitari and General Manager Project and Engineering Services, Fred Odawo. The move was aimed at addressing the disruptions caused by the blackout.
Simultaneously, a dispute emerged between Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP), a prominent power producer, and Kenya Power (KPLC), the nation’s utility company. The two entities exchanged accusations regarding their involvement in the blackout.
Kenya Power (KPLC) attributed the turmoil to LTWP and claimed to have dispatched engineers to the wind farm for investigations. In contrast, LTWP released a statement asserting that it was not generating power during the blackout, shifting the blame to an automatic system shutdown to prevent further strain on an already overloaded national grid.
As the controversy rages on, the focus remains on clarifying the events that led to the nationwide blackout, including the tragic loss of an infant, and resolving the complex power dynamics between key players in the energy sector.
