26/01/2026
A Story of Hope, Love, and Triumph!
For many, holding a newborn is a moment of pure joy. For Kenneth Otieno and Vivian Anyango, residents of Athi River in Machakos County, that moment came after a long, daunting journey marked by loss, fear, and extraordinary resilience.
After previously losing two pregnancies, Vivian’s third pregnancy was filled with both hope and anxiety. At just 25 weeks, she went into labour and was referred to Kenyatta National Hospital on 26 September 2025.
A multidisciplinary team acted swiftly. Four days later, Vivian delivered extremely preterm twins. Twin One weighed 750 grams; Twin Two, a mere 650 grams. Their fight for life began immediately in the Newborn Unit (NBU), where they were placed on CPAP machines to breathe.
For three months, the babies were nurtured in the NBU. Vivian embraced Kangaroo Mother Care, while Kenneth stood unwaveringly by his family. For four months, he visited daily, actively participating in care and providing vital Kangaroo Mother Care himself, a testament to a father’s love.
The path was fragile. Their weights dipped terrifyingly low, to 550g and 500g. But through consistent, specialized care, cleared infections, and successful breastfeeding, they fought back.
The result? A miracle of perseverance. At discharge, Twin One weighed 1,830 grams and Twin Two 1,790 grams, more than double their lowest weights. Vivian remained a pillar of strength throughout.
On 20 January 2026, after over four months in hospital, Kenneth and Vivian finally walked out with both their healthy babies. This milestone marks the first documented case at KNH where a set of extremely preterm twins was delivered and successfully survived to discharge.
This victory belongs to the resilient parents and a dedicated team: Dr. Florence Murila, Dr. Wairimu Kimani (Head, NBU), Dr. Miriam Weru, Dr. Mary Waiyego, nursing leads Ms. Beatrice Mukhola & the entire NBU/KMC nursing team, and nutritionists Ms. Valerie Maleche & Mr. Daniel Sang.
At Kenyatta National Hospital, saving lives is our mission and commitment: to guide mothers safely and give every premature baby a fighting chance to not only survive, but to thrive.