Mercy Kanini: Juja mum who lost 5 babies after giving birth naturally shops for coffins ahead of burial
By Steve Ireri, September 18, 2026Mercy Kanini, the Nairobi woman who gave birth to five babies naturally before losing all of them within three days, has visited a coffin shop with her husband to select coffins for their children following intervention by comedian Eric Omondi.
The heartbreaking moment was captured in a video shared by Eric on Instagram on Friday, September 18, 2026, showing him accompanying the grieving couple as they prepared for the burial of their five newborns.
Eric, who has been supporting Mercy and her family since news of the deaths went viral, held her by the hand as they walked through the coffin shop, with the couple examining several coffins prepared for the tiny bodies.
Some of the coffins were white and featured different designs, while others were noticeably small because they had been made for babies.
The couple eventually settled on five coffins, which were selected separately as they prepared to give their children a final send-off.
Mercy’s husband, who is the father of the deceased babies, was also present during the emotional shopping trip as the family confronted one of the most painful realities of their loss.
The footage offered a deeply emotional glimpse into the preparations taking place after the family’s extraordinary joy at welcoming five babies turned into grief following their deaths at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
Sharing the video on Instagram, Eric provided an update on Mercy’s condition and appealed for continued financial support as the family prepares for the burial.
“Quick update: Mercy Kanini was discharged from hospital today. So far, she has received Ksh305,000, while her hospital bill stands at Ksh228,000,” Eric wrote.
He added that Mercy still needed support, noting that the burial had been scheduled for the following Friday in Kuria, Migori County.
“The burial is set for next Friday in Kuria, Migori County. Please send whatever you can to her number, 0706 871527, in the name of Mercy Kanini,” he said.
Eric also appealed to KNH to consider waiving Mercy’s hospital bill, saying he would continue seeking support for the grieving mother.
“I am still kindly requesting Kenyatta National Hospital to please waive the hospital bill for her. God bless,” he wrote.
The update came only days after Mercy’s heartbreaking story captured the attention of Kenyans following the birth and subsequent deaths of her five children.
Mercy, a 28-year-old mother from Juja, Kiambu County, had initially been expecting four babies after prenatal scans indicated that she was carrying quadruplets.
She went into labour at around 1am on Sunday, September 13, before arriving at Thika Level 5 Hospital later that morning.
The babies, however, were born extremely prematurely at about 25 to 26 weeks and had critically low birth weights ranging from approximately 630 grammes to 800 grammes.
Their condition required specialised neonatal care, prompting their transfer from Thika Level 5 Hospital to KNH in Nairobi.
The joy surrounding the rare birth quickly gave way to devastating grief after two of the baby girls died within hours of arriving at KNH.
Mercy was then left clinging to hope for the remaining three babies as doctors continued efforts to save their lives.
That hope was shattered again on Tuesday, September 15, when two more baby girls died after suffering complications associated with extreme prematurity and underdeveloped lungs.
By then, only one of Mercy’s five children remained alive.
The lone surviving baby was a boy who continued fighting for his life as doctors attempted to treat the complications caused by his extreme prematurity and underdeveloped organs.
His death on Wednesday, September 16, brought the family’s devastating ordeal to an end, with all five babies having died within three days of their birth.