Babies who died in botched Marakwet immunization buried

Two children that died on Tuesday after receiving measles vaccinations in Kerio Valley, Elgeyo-Marakwet County have been buried.

The babies, both aged nine months, had been immunized for measles at Sesie Post in Kotut where health staff conducted routine immunizations.

Shortly after receiving the jabs, the children passed on and a few others were hospitalized. Their untimely passing sparked a debate about the management of the health sector.

Elgeyo-Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos led the burial ceremony at Mokoko village and called for more finances to be allocated to the ailing health sector.

The Governor promised to follow up on the compensation of the affected families.

Speaking at the somber function, Marawet East MP Kangogo Bowen said that the health sector should be left to the national government.

“What has happened here is very tragic. If the county cannot manage the health sector, they should leave it to the National Government,” said Bowen.

Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen differed sharply with Bowen’s statement.

Consoling the distraught families, Health Minister Thomas Ruto said the batch of the vaccine samples used to vaccinate the two children have been taken to Nairobi for further medical analysis to determine the cause of death.

The Elgeyo Marakwet incident comes after another botched immunization case in Busia that left 28 children paralysed.