17-year-old mother detained in hospital over Ksh68K bill appeals for help
By Viola Kosome, March 18, 2026For 17-year-old Melvin Atieno, what should have been a joyful chapter of motherhood has instead become a painful struggle that has left her confined within hospital walls, holding her two-year-old daughter and hoping for a way out.
Melvin, who hails from Seme Sub-County, has been detained at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital for nearly two weeks after being discharged, unable to raise a hospital bill of Ksh68,335.
Each day, she watches other mothers leave with their babies while she stays behind, her freedom tied to a bill she cannot afford.
Her journey has been marked by hardship from an early age. After her parents separated, she moved with her mother to Nairobi, where they lived in the Huruma Estate.
Life became even more difficult when her mother fell ill, leaving them struggling to meet basic needs.
At the time, Melvin was still in school, full of hope for a better future. But circumstances forced her to drop out, and at just 15, she became a mother, changing the course of her life entirely.
Worsening condition
Determined to support her family, she later found work as a house help in Nairobi, earning Ksh4,500 a month, which she used to assist her ailing mother and siblings back in the village.
But last month, her fragile stability was shaken again when her baby fell seriously ill and was admitted to Kombewa Sub-County Hospital before being referred to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, where the child was diagnosed with anaemia.
Melvin rushed back home on February 13, 2026, only to find her baby in a worsening condition. Days of anxiety followed as the child fought to recover.
Thankfully, the baby responded to treatment and was eventually discharged.
But for Melvin, relief quickly turned into distress.
Despite being cleared to leave nearly two weeks ago, she and her child remain detained at the hospital due to the unpaid bill, an amount that continues to rise with each passing day.
“The longer we stay here, the higher the bill becomes,” she says quietly.
Inside the ward, life has become increasingly difficult. Food is only provided for the baby, forcing Melvin to go for long hours, sometimes entire days, without a proper meal.
“Sometimes other patients share what they have, but most days I go without food,” she says.
Basic necessities such as nappies, soap, and baby items are out of reach, leaving her dependent on the goodwill of others.
Her mother, who is unwell and struggling financially, has only managed to visit twice due to lack of transport and the harsh situation back home, where even getting food is a challenge.
Melvin’s family
Melvin is the firstborn in a family of six children, all relying on their mother’s casual jobs to survive.
Now, confined in a place she was meant to leave, she fears for her child’s health.
“I am worried my baby might get sick again because we are still here,” she says, her voice filled with concern.
The emotional toll is evident. At just 17 years old, she does not have a national ID, is not registered for SHA, and cannot raise payment to secure the release of her child.
“Life here is very hard and depressing,” she adds.
Looking back, Melvin expresses deep regret over how her life has unfolded, saying that she should have been in Form Four by now.
She now urges other young girls to stay focused on their education and make choices that will secure their future.
With no steady support and no clear way out, Melvin is now making a heartfelt appeal to well-wishers to help settle his hospital bill and give him a chance to rebuild his life.
“I am pleading with well-wishers to help me out. I also hope to get a course to study so I can support my family,” she said.
For now, she waits holding onto hope that someone will hear her plea and help her walk out of the hospital, free at last, and ready to begin again.
On Saturday, March 14, 2026, the facility’s CEO, Joshua Okise, had claimed they would investigate the case. However, by Tuesday, March 17, 2026, the minor was still stuck at the facility.
“This is new to me but we will investigate on Monday,” he said.