NAIROBI, Kenya — Nairobi County’s Head of Customer Care Department, Geoffrey Mosiria, has made an emotional appeal to Kenyans after encountering a deeply distressing case involving a vulnerable single mother whose child has spent months in intensive care.
Through a post shared on his socials, Mosiria narrated the plight of Mary Koki Kioko, a single mother of three who is currently homeless, emotionally distressed, and struggling to care for her critically ill daughter admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
According to Mosiria, the distraught mother described herself as “a depressed soul giving up,” saying she wanted her story known before losing hope entirely.
Mary told Mosiria that her young daughter, Baby Precious, had spent three months in the Intensive Care Unit and had recently been moved to a general ward at KNH. Her ordeal, she said, began after the death of her mother, a loss that plunged the family into deeper hardship.
She further revealed that her elderly father later abandoned the family, leaving her solely responsible for her children.
In a bid to survive, Mary said she moved to Nairobi in search of work, leaving her two older children with relatives while travelling to the city with her breastfeeding baby. A cousin agreed to host her on condition that she only brought the infant, forcing her to separate from her other children.
While in Nairobi, Mary survived by doing menial jobs, including washing clothes, and sending whatever little money she earned back home. She later learned that during her absence, her children were allegedly subjected to abuse.
“I did not know they were mistreating my children,” she recounted, adding that she later received a distressing call informing her that one of her children had fallen critically ill.
Medical examinations later revealed that the child had suffered severe brain damage, allegedly following an assault. Mary said doctors informed her that the damage was irreversible.
“The brain was already damaged. Up to date, my child has never woken up,” she said, adding that Baby Precious can no longer see, walk or sit and is unlikely to live a normal life.
Despite reporting the matter to the police, Mary claimed the suspects were released on bond, compounding her pain and frustration. Her situation worsened further when she was allegedly chased away by the relative who had hosted her, forcing her to seek shelter at a church.
Now completely stranded, Mary says she has no home, no income and no support system, while her sick child lies alone in a hospital ward.
“Sina nyumba, sina chochote. Baby Precious is alone in the ward,” she cried, according to Mosiria’s account.
Mosiria said the encounter left him heartbroken and compelled him to speak out, calling on well-wishers, faith-based organisations and corporate partners to come to Mary’s aid. He appealed for support to help clear hospital bills, secure basic housing and ensure the child receives continuous care.
“This is a mother at the edge, weighed down by grief, poverty and a broken system,” Mosiria said, urging Kenyans not to turn away from her suffering.
The case has reignited conversations on child protection, social safety nets and the plight of vulnerable families in urban centres, with calls for authorities to strengthen follow-up on abuse cases and provide structured support to victims.
As Mary continues to battle despair, Mosiria said immediate intervention could make the difference between hope and complete collapse for both mother and child.
