Mumias Central MCA Ali Okomba has called for accountability at Mumias Level IV Hospital following the death of Saumu Juma, a businesswoman who reportedly died shortly after giving birth at the facility.

The death of Saumu Juma has left the Mumias business community mourning, with questions emerging over what happened during the hours she spent at Mumias Level IV Hospital seeking one of life’s greatest joys — bringing a child into the world.

On Thursday evening, MCA Ali Okomba, accompanied by leaders of Mumias traders, visited the hospital to seek answers and express their concerns over the circumstances surrounding Saumu’s death.

According to accounts shared with the leaders, Saumu gave birth at around 3am but reportedly died about an hour later following excessive bleeding.

Her death has raised difficult questions among local leaders and traders, who want to know whether everything possible was done to save her life.

Speaking after meeting the hospital’s nursing in-charge and administrator, Okomba said the family deserved answers and called for a thorough investigation into the incident.

“As leaders from Mumias Central, we send our deepest condolences to the family of our sister Saumu Juma. We are here to find out what might have caused the loss of her life,” he said.

The MCA said concerns had been raised about the conduct of the healthcare workers who were on duty that night, insisting that the allegations must be investigated and appropriate action taken if negligence is established.

He appealed to Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa to intervene and ensure that the circumstances surrounding Saumu’s death are thoroughly examined.

During the meeting, hospital officials reportedly told the visiting leaders that the facility handles between 200 and 250 deliveries every month and that no similar incident had been recorded, according to the information shared during the discussion.

However, Okomba maintained that the circumstances of Saumu’s death could not be ignored and called for accountability.

He also revealed that a departmental committee led by Hon. Gladys Shikongolo had visited the facility to investigate the matter.

The MCA said the leaders would await the committee’s report when it is presented to the County Assembly before deciding on the next course of action.

“We cannot sit back and watch our people lose their lives where negligence may have played a role. We want answers, and those found responsible must be held accountable,” Okomba said.

TRADERS WANT CHANGES AT THE HOSPITAL

For Mumias traders, Saumu was more than a name in the news. She was one of their own — a hardworking businesswoman whose death has left colleagues grieving and demanding answers.

Mumias Traders Chairperson Ali Matseshe said the business community was deeply saddened by the loss and stood with Saumu’s family during this difficult time.

Matseshe raised concerns over reports that student healthcare workers were involved in attending to Saumu on the night she died, calling on the Kakamega County Government to deploy more qualified and experienced healthcare personnel to the facility.

He also called for changes in the hospital’s management, saying residents deserved a health facility where patients are treated with care, professionalism and urgency.

“As Mumias traders, we are saddened by the loss of Saumu Juma. The hospital is very important to us, and we want people who are ready to work and serve our community. Human life is precious, and we cannot gamble with it,” Matseshe said.

He urged the county government to take the concerns raised by the traders seriously and ensure that the hospital provides reliable services to the people who depend on it.

WOMEN TRADERS SPEAK OUT

Zulekha Wambia, the women’s representative for Mumias traders, also conveyed her condolences to Saumu’s family, describing the loss as painful for the entire community.

While acknowledging the importance of Mumias Level IV Hospital to local residents, Wambia raised concerns about the quality of services patients receive at the facility.

She alleged that some workers were more focused on their mobile phones than attending to patients, while support staff, including cleaners, were not adequately assisting visitors who needed directions within the hospital.

Wambia called on Governor Barasa and the county health department to address the concerns, arguing that people who seek treatment at public hospitals deserve to be received with compassion and helped without unnecessary delays.

She also questioned the hospital’s leadership, saying the concerns raised by Saumu’s death should prompt a serious review of how the facility is managed.

“As leaders, we want these issues addressed before things get out of hand,” she said.

The allegations raised by the traders and local leaders have yet to be independently established, and the circumstances surrounding Saumu’s death remain subject to investigation.

A COMMUNITY WAITING FOR ANSWERS

Saumu’s death has brought the importance of maternal healthcare back into sharp focus in Mumias, with leaders insisting that every mother who walks into a hospital to give birth deserves attentive care and the best possible chance of returning home safely with her family.

For her loved ones, the loss is deeply personal. For fellow traders, it is the loss of a colleague. And for the wider community, it has raised serious questions about the care available at a hospital many residents rely on.

The leaders say they will await the findings of the investigation, but they want the county government to act on any shortcomings identified and ensure that healthcare workers have the support, skills and accountability needed to serve patients.

As Mumias mourns Saumu Juma, one question continues to weigh heavily on the community: Could her death have been prevented, and what must be done to ensure that another family does not suffer the same pain?

For now, her family deserves answers, her loved ones deserve justice, and the community deserves confidence that its public health facilities are doing everything possible to protect human life.