Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has rejected claims circulating on social media that a mother and her newborn were denied medical care at the facility before the baby allegedly died.

The hospital said it reviewed its available patient and maternity records after the allegations emerged but did not find any case matching the account.

According to KNH, its records indicate that the mother did not give birth at the hospital, making it difficult to verify the circumstances surrounding the allegations.

The hospital acknowledged that there could have been gaps in documentation or communication but maintained that such issues are not deliberate and should not compromise patient safety.

KNH has invited the affected family, the person who raised the allegations and anyone with relevant information to come forward so that the matter can be properly investigated.

The hospital explained that patients are assessed according to the seriousness of their medical needs, with cases being stabilised, escalated or referred where necessary.

KNH also revealed that its maternity department is currently experiencing unusually high demand. The increase has partly been linked to industrial action affecting health services in several counties.

The situation has been further complicated by renovations in maternity and other hospital wards, which have temporarily reduced the number of available beds.

To manage the increased workload, KNH said it has deployed additional medical staff and strengthened its triage and referral systems.

The hospital is also monitoring bed availability and critical-care capacity as it continues to handle the rising number of patients.

KNH had recently advised patients seeking non-emergency treatment to consider health facilities closer to their homes because of the increased pressure on services.

The hospital has now urged anyone with information concerning the newborn’s case to contact its officials so that the allegations can be investigated and the facts established.