Woman gives birth to ‘baby Chepkura’ as she waits to vote

Women carrying babies cast their vote in Gatundu in Kiambu county, Kenya August 8, 2017. /REUTERS

Woman gives birth to ‘baby Chepkura’ as she waits to vote

A woman gave birth as she waited to vote on Tuesday at the Konyau Mixed Secondary School polling station.

The woman said she was experiencing labour pains during her three-hour wait on the queue.

But she said, “Let me vote before rushing to the hospital. This is my democratic right.”

Kapchok MCA Peter Lokor said the woman delivered safely. The baby was named Hellen Chepkura, to mark voting in the general election.

Another woman had a stillborn at Kuwit polling station.

Lokor said the mother was rushed to a health facility shortly after where the child was declared dead.

Selina Chepuray, a voter, said most mothers in the region have been experiencing premature deliveries due to lack of food.

“This area faces so many challenges. Women are forced to walk long distances searching for food and water. This has resulted to expectant mothers to miscarry,” she said.

North Pokot sub county is among areas experiencing inadequate rainfall.

Last week, residents appealed to the government to supply them with relief food and expressed fears they would miss out on the general election as they sought pasture for their animals.

A spot check by the Star revealed that most people had migrated back to the constituency and were fully participating in the exercise.

“I had migrated to Uganda in search of pastures for my animals but I decided to come back and vote since its my democratic right. I want to elect my own leaders,” a resident said.