The father of three-year-old Leilah Mutenyo Wafula says he was locked up, assaulted, and threatened by hospital security guards when he demanded answers about his daughter’s death after a procedure at Bungoma Children’s Hospital on Friday, October 30.
John Kaburu, the bereaved father from Lwandeti in Lugari, Kakamega County, is now calling for an independent investigation into how what was meant to be a routine operation ended in tragedy.
Leilah underwent an adenotonsillectomy to remove her tonsils, a procedure the family was told would take about 30 minutes but reportedly lasted more than two hours.
Kaburu says his daughter was active, smiling and playing with balloons at about 1:40 p.m. By around 2:30 p.m., she had died.
“What happened during those hours, and why was the family not properly informed?” he asks.
“My heart is shattered beyond words. You were my precious daughter, my joy, and a part of me that can never be replaced. Losing you in such heartbreaking circumstances has left a pain that words cannot describe,” Kaburu mourned in a Facebook post.
He claims that when he sought explanations, security guards were called and that he was locked up, assaulted, and threatened instead of being given answers. The family also says no professional counselling or emotional support was offered after the loss.
Questions over the surgeon, delays, and communication
The family says they booked an appointment with a particular doctor, but another was hurriedly brought in to perform the surgery. They want the hospital to explain who made that decision and why.
They also want answers on the delay of more than two hours before the procedure began, which they say raises questions about the preparedness of the medical team and theater. They accuse staff of failing to give timely and adequate information about Leilah’s condition, the surgery, and any complications.
Phone confiscated, body moved without consent
Beyond the circumstances of Leilah’s death, Kaburu has raised troubling questions about how he and his daughter’s body were treated afterward.
He says his phone was confiscated for about three hours, preventing him from communicating freely with relatives or seeking help.
“Why was my phone confiscated for about three hours?” he asks, saying he remains deeply concerned about the circumstances of that action.
The father also questions why his daughter’s body was moved to another morgue without the family’s consent or a proper explanation. He further wants to know why the body was transported in a security guard’s vehicle instead of a hearse or an appropriate mortuary vehicle, saying this raises more questions about how Leilah’s remains were handled.
Kaburu says the experience has left him deeply traumatized. He fears the actions may have been intended to stop him from seeking answers and informing others about what had happened.
He also accuses Bungoma Children’s Hospital of refusing to provide a medical report on Leilah’s death.
“They have concealed everything about the sudden demise of our daughter,” he says, insisting the family will not stay silent and will pursue the truth through the proper authorities and lawful channels.
“My daughter was innocent. Her life mattered. Her death matters,” Kaburu says. “Her death must not go in vain. We demand justice.”
Disputed billing and call for accountability
The parents say a liver function test appears on the official bill despite their understanding that it was never conducted. They are asking for an independent review of the hospital’s billing and laboratory records.
Kaburu and Norah are demanding a transparent, independent probe into the child’s death, the conduct of the procedure, the disputed billing, and the alleged mistreatment of the family.
“We deserve answers and accountability,” the family maintains as it seeks justice for Leilah.
The hospital has not yet responded to the allegations.
