A man volunteers to donate blood at the Kibwezi Sub-County Hospital in support of mothers facing childbirth complications and other medical emergencies on December 9, 2025. Photo by Andrew Mbuva 
By Andrew Mbuva
Thousands of men in Kibwezi, Makueni County, on Tuesday turned up in overwhelming numbers at the Kibwezi Sub-County Hospital to donate blood in support of mothers facing childbirth complications and other medical emergencies.
The high-impact mobilisation was spearheaded by Kibwezi Township Chairman George Mwaura alongside the hospital’s Medical Superintendent Dr. Blastus Kakundi, who both stressed the urgent need for male involvement in safeguarding maternal health.
Dr. Kakundi described the turnout as “a powerful demonstration of responsibility,” noting that postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) remains one of the leading causes of maternal deaths.
“We cannot afford to lose mothers because we lack blood,” he said. “Today, these men have shown that saving lives begins at the community level.”
Mwaura echoed the sentiment, urging men across the region to treat maternal health as a shared duty.
“Men must lead from the front,” he said. “When we show up, we save mothers. It’s that simple.”
The initiative seeks to significantly boost the hospital’s blood reserves to ensure timely transfusions for women experiencing PPH and other life-threatening conditions. Health officials noted that the fresh supply would greatly enhance emergency response capacity and improve survival rates for mothers in critical condition.
Makueni CEC for Health Joyce Mutua, who joined the donors, praised the campaign as a key step toward strengthening maternal care in the county.
“This drive is a major boost to our fight against preventable maternal deaths,” she said. “It shows what is possible when communities unite for a cause.”
Her sentiments were shared by Masongaleni MCA Bryan Nzoka, who called for sustained community involvement: “Let this not be a one-day event. We must keep supporting such initiatives to protect our mothers.”
Kibwezi Sub-County Hospital Matron Patricia Mutinda and Bodaboda Association Chairman Richard Musyoka, both instrumental in coordinating the event, expressed satisfaction with the massive turnout, noting that it reflected a growing culture of responsibility toward maternal health.
Health officials say the blood donation drive will continue periodically to maintain sufficient supply levels and ensure no mother in Kibwezi loses her life due to preventable complications.
