All Five Quintuplets Die at Kenyatta National Hospital

All five quintuplets born to a woman in Juja earlier this week have died at Kenyatta National Hospital, where they were receiving specialised neonatal care, the hospital said.

The babies were transferred to KNH from Thika Level Five Hospital shortly after birth for tertiary care, according to a statement dated Sept. 16.

They were born at 25 weeks of gestation, making them extremely premature, and weighed between 630 and 800 grams. Infants born at such an early stage face a high risk of complications requiring intensive neonatal support.

A multidisciplinary team of neonatologists, nurses and allied health professionals cared for the babies after their admission, KNH said.

Four of the infants died before the fifth, which died a day later, according to the hospital.

“KNH is deeply saddened by this devastating loss,” the hospital said in the statement, signed by Acting Chief Executive Officer Joel Lessan. It extended its condolences to the mother and her family.

The birth had attracted national attention because of its rarity. The quintuplets were born to Mercy Kanini during her third pregnancy, which lasted about six months.