
A tragic medical oversight has culminated in the death of 28‑year‑old Rosemary Wangui, who harbored surgical bandages inside her abdomen for nearly two years after a cesarean section at a Nairobi city hospital. The shocking revelation threatens to inflame debate over accountability in Kenyan healthcare.
Wangui, a mother of two, underwent a C‑section two years ago. However, she began suffering persistent abdominal infections shortly thereafter. Each time she returned to the same city hospital, staff treated her for presumed urinary tract infections. No one suspected a retained surgical item—until a CT scan performed at a private clinic uncovered two bandages: one lodged in her stomach and another embedded in her bladder.
Following the discovery, Wangui was rushed back to the original hospital for corrective surgery. But despite the urgent procedure, she succumbed to sepsis on June 14, 2025, at Murang’a Hospital. Her sister, Bernice, confirmed that the infection had ravaged her vital organs beyond repair.
The family now faces mounting medical bills totaling KSh 700,000. Desperate, they have appealed for public support. “She fought hard, but the sepsis was too advanced,” said Bernice, unveiling the hospital bill and her sister’s final fight for life.

Key Developments
- Retained items exposed by CT scan — Clinic tests revealed two surgical bandages inside Wangui almost two years post-operation.
- Repeated misdiagnosis at city hospital — Initial doctors dismissed her recurring symptoms, attributing them repeatedly to UTIs.
- Sepsis claimed her life — Despite corrective surgery on June 12, she died just two days later.
- Medical debt looms large — The family is urgently seeking KSh 700,000 to cover treatment and funeral costs.
- Public outcry expected — This case is set to intensify calls for stricter surgical procedures and patient safety accountability.
Health experts warn that surgical items left behind after operations are rare but preventable catastrophes that demand immediate redress. Rosemary’s case has highlighted critical weaknesses in patient follow-up procedures and surgical accountability within city hospitals.
While the hospital has yet to issue an official statement, calls for a full inquiry are growing. Lawyers and medical watchdog groups are expected to demand disciplinary action, regulatory changes, and possible legal recourse on behalf of Wangui’s grieving family.
Conclusion:
Rosemary Wangui’s death lays bare a lethal lapse in medical care. As Kanurians and Kenyans everywhere await answers, this tragedy underscores an urgent need for surgical oversight and safeguards in healthcare—before more lives are lost.