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Mercy Kanini loses 4 babies after normal quintuplet delivery: Here’s what happened
15th September, 2026 07:46 PM
Mercy Kanini, the Juja woman who made headlines after delivering five babies through normal delivery at Thika Level Five Hospital on Monday, September 14, 2026, has lost four of the quintuplets.
The premature babies died at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), where they had been transferred shortly after birth for specialised newborn care.
The heartbreaking development came just a day after Kanini delivered all five babies naturally in what was described as a rare occurrence, believed to be among only five such cases recorded in Kenya.
Why were the babies transferred to KNH?
The quintuplets were transferred to KNH because of their extremely low birth weights and the need for specialised neonatal intensive care.
The babies weighed between 630 and 800 grammes, placing them at significant risk because of their extreme prematurity.
A healthcare official explained that the babies required a higher level of specialised care than could be provided at the initial facility.
“They needed more special care at Kenyatta National Hospital. Their weight was too small. They needed a specialised ICU for newborns,” the official said.
Kanini’s pregnancy had lasted about six months, meaning the babies were born significantly earlier than the usual 37 to 40 weeks associated with a full-term pregnancy.
Extremely premature babies can face serious health challenges because their organs, including the lungs, brain and immune system, may not yet be fully developed. Such babies often require specialised neonatal intensive care and close monitoring.
A rare normal delivery
Despite the eventual tragedy, Kanini’s delivery at Thika Level Five Hospital had initially been celebrated as a remarkable medical achievement.
She arrived at the hospital after one of the babies had already started coming out. Doctors initially considered taking her to the theatre but later determined that she could deliver naturally.
“Vile nilifika hapa kuna mtoto alikuwa ametamgulia kutoka, vile nilisikia anatoka niliita daktari akaniweka labour ward akaniangalia akiprocess kuenda theatre, but after sometime wakasema naweza deliver normal,” Kanini said.
“Nilideliver watoto wote normal sikufanyiwa C-section. Na vile nilipata watoto ni watano nilifurahi sana sikutense, sikuogoma am very happy.“
Kanini, who already has two children, expressed her joy after welcoming the quintuplets, describing the birth as a moment of happiness.
The babies’ father, Evans Murirya Nyahanga, also expressed happiness at the arrival of the five children while acknowledging the challenge of raising such a large family and appealed for support.
“Kwa majina ni Evans Murirya Nyahanga kutoka niko na furaha kujaliwa na watoto watano, hii jambo ni ngumu tena ni furaha mimi ningeomba gavana wetu Wamatangi kama atazidi kusimama na mimi nitashukuru na yeyote anaweza kuwa willing kusimama na mimi ntashukuru,” Nyahanga appealed.
The loss of four of the babies has now cast a sombre shadow over what had initially been a moment of celebration for the family and the medical team.
