Teen mothers detained in hospitals over bills they cannot afford to pay

Nasimiyu was defiled, gave birth at 16, then held hostage by a Sh106,000 hospital bill. SHA refused to pay simply because she lacks a national ID. She is not alone in this frustration..

✨ Key Highlights

Teenage mothers in Kenya are reportedly being detained in hospitals due to unpaid medical bills, despite the launch of a government program to assist them. The system, intended to provide coverage, is failing to reach vulnerable young mothers.

Hospital bills can amount to hundreds of thousands of shillings, such as Sh300,000 in one case.
The Social Health Authority (SHA) is the government body responsible for the health coverage program.
Young mothers aged 13 to 19 are affected, often due to lacking official identification or the program's temporary identification numbers being suspended at facilities.