Death of IEBC official’s wife raises queries

IEBC commissioner Thomas Letangule addresses journalists at Family Care Maternity in Nairobi Thursday. PHOEBE OKALL

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  • Mr Letangule added: “The whole day, the hospital did not contact me or any other relative until about 4pm when they sent him a text message telling me to rush over. I arrived here at about 5.30pm, only to find that she had already passed away. Fortunately, the baby has survived.” He said that the doctor who attended to his wife was not available to explain to him what had happened, which aroused his suspicion, prompting him to report the matter to the police.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of an electoral agency commissioner’s wife at a Nairobi hospital.

Mr Thomas Letangule of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission said he had reported the death of his wife Esther at the Lang’ata Police Station after the hospital management failed to explain to him the cause of death.

The 37-year-old mother of three died on Wednesday evening at Family Care Maternity, Langata Road.

Mr Letangule said his wife, who was 34 weeks pregnant, had dropped their eldest child at a school near the hospital and then visited the health centre for a check-up.

Yesterday afternoon, Mr Letangule and some family members visited the hospital and met the administration officials.

Speaking moments after the meeting, the commissioner said the officials told him that the doctor had induced labour.
“It is very painful for me. She came to the hospital because she had high blood pressure, which we were aware of, and she must have thought it was a routine visit because she did not inform me,” he told journalists at the hospital.

Mr Letangule added: “The whole day, the hospital did not contact me or any other relative until about 4pm when they sent him a text message telling me to rush over. I arrived here at about 5.30pm, only to find that she had already passed away. Fortunately, the baby has survived.” He said that the doctor who attended to his wife was not available to explain to him what had happened, which aroused his suspicion, prompting him to report the matter to the police.

“They did not inform me of any procedure they had to carry out on her and I just came to learn with a lot of sadness that she had passed away. I am now left with two other children and an infant who is admitted at the Nairobi Hospital,” he said. He added that he believed his wife’s death could have been prevented.

Mr Letangule said he had reported the matter to the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board for investigations.

Lang’ata CID boss James Manuni said the commissioner reported the case on Wednesday night and Thursday recorded a statement from a clinical officer.