Woman loses child after queuing under scorching sun to vote
A woman has lost her unborn child after queuing for long hours at Kuwit polling centre in North Pokot Sub County, West Pokot County.
The woman, who complained of labour pains, preferred to queue under the scorching sun.
MCA Kapchok ward Peter Lokor said that after the mother cast her vote, she went to the health facility where her unborn child was declared stillborn.
Selina Chepuray, a local resident, said that most mothers in the region experience premature deliveries due to lack of food.
“This area faces so many challenges. Women are forced to walk long distances in search of food and water and this has resulted in many miscarriages,” regretted Chepuray.
MIGRATED
North Pokot sub county is one of the arid sub counties that has been hit by a drought.
Last week, area residents had appealed to the government to supply them with relief food since most of the locals were sleeping hungry.
Local leaders last week expressed fear that locals may not participate in the elections since they had migrated in search of pasture.
A spot check by the Nation revealed that most people had migrated back to the area and were participating in the exercise.
HEALTHY BABY
“I had migrated to Uganda in search of pastures for my animals but I decided to come back and vote since it’s my democratic right. I want to elect my own leaders,” he said.
But there was a happy ending when a middle-aged woman gave birth to a healthy baby after queuing for more than three hours at Konyau Mixed Secondary School polling centre in Kapchok Ward, West Pokot County.
According to Lokor, the woman went into labour while on the queue but declined to be rushed to Konyau Dispensary and insisted she must vote fast before being taken to the hospital.
“Let me vote before rushing me to the hospital. This is my democratic right,” she said.
Lokor said that the mother gave birth safely at the polling centre before she cast her vote to a baby girl and named her ‘Hellen Chepkura’ meaning elections.
