Kisumu: The family of a 31-year-old nurse who died shortly after undergoing a caesarean section at Kisumu County Referral Hospital (KCRH) is demanding investigations into what they describe as negligence and poor post-operative care. Lynn Atieno, a nurse at the facility, passed away on April 22, 2026, after delivering twins through an elective caesarean section, leaving behind two newborn boys.
According to Kenya News Agency, her relatives accuse the hospital of failing to properly monitor her after surgery, claiming she bled to death while unattended in the ward. Lynn was laid to rest at Othoo Village in Nyando Sub-county, as grief-stricken family members renewed calls for justice and accountability over her death. The family spoke amid mounting concerns over maternal deaths in Kenya, with county health officials insisting that Lynn was a high-risk patient whose condition had already placed her life in danger.
An autopsy report commissioned at the hospital concluded that Lynn died from excessive bleeding following an elective caesarean section in twin pregnancy. The report, prepared by consultant pathologist Dr. Massawa Thaddeus Jude, indicated that the deceased suffered severe massive hem peritoneum, with free blood in the abdominal cavity estimated at about 3,000cc. The pathologist documented marked pallor, extensive internal bleeding, and blood clots, concluding that the cause of death was excessive bleeding after the operation.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Caroline Olonde said Lynn had been admitted for nearly five weeks for monitoring due to pregnancy-related hypertension before doctors scheduled the surgery. ‘She was okay after the CS, but from the theatre, she was not monitored by anybody, including the fellow nurses. Lynn was just left alone,’ said Olonde. She claimed the family later learned through the pathologist’s report that Lynn had bled to death after the surgery.
The family further questioned why Lynn, whom they described as a high-risk patient, was allegedly transferred directly from theatre to the ward instead of being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for closer observation. ‘They are telling us it was an accident. Which accident? That is what we really want to know,’ said Olonde.
Another relative, Marlene Juma, described Lynn as a resilient young woman who had struggled for years to pursue a nursing career after completing secondary school. Juma claimed Lynn had informed relatives that she had been resuscitated twice after the operation, but alleged the hospital had failed to clearly explain the circumstances surrounding her deterioration and death.
The family also criticised staffing levels at the hospital, alleging that patients were often left under the care of students with inadequate supervision. ‘As a family, we want justice for Lynn and justice for the two children she has left behind,’ Juma added.
However, Kisumu County Executive Committee Member for Medical Services, Public Health and Sanitation, Dr. Gregory Ganda defended the hospital staff, saying Lynn’s pregnancy already placed her at extremely high risk of maternal complications. Dr. Ganda said the deceased suffered from severe preeclampsia while carrying twins, conditions he described as major contributors to maternal mortality. ‘She had two risk factors which make a patient easily bleed,’ he said.
The county official said Lynn had been under specialised care and was attended to by senior medical professionals, including a gynecologist and an anesthesiologist. He dismissed claims of negligence, insisting that only an independent medical board could determine whether there was any professional misconduct.
The death has now sparked calls for independent investigations into maternal care standards at the referral hospital, with the family urging health authorities and professional medical bodies to intervene. Lynn’s relatives say no amount of compensation can replace the loss suffered by the newborn twins. ‘She cannot defend herself now that she is gone. All we want is the truth about what happened to her,’ said Juma.
