Woman Delivers Five Babies Via Normal Delivery in Thika

Mercy Kanini, a woman from Juja, Kiambu county successfully delivered five babies through normal delivery at Thika Level Five Hospital, a rare achievement and one of only five such cases recorded in Kenya’s history.

Speaking at the hospital after the delivery, Kanini said she delivered the first baby soon after arriving, after which nurses began preparing her for theatre for a C-section.

But in a sudden turn of events, she said the decision was put off and she was informed that she could deliver the remaining babies normally after being examined.

"After some time, I don't know what happened, they said I could deliver normally. I was very happy on learning that I had delivered five babies," she said.

Quintuplets are usually born prematurely, resulting in low birth weights and often requiring intensive medical care.

Natural conception of quintuplets without fertility treatment is extremely rare, occurring in about one in 55 million pregnancies.

Before Kanini, the most recent birth of quintuplets was reported in May 2026, when Bedriya Adem gave birth to five babies in Ethiopia's Harari Regional State after 12 years of trying for a baby.

The 35-year-old delivered four boys and a girl at Hiwot Fana Specialised Hospital, with all five babies reported to be in good health.

The babies weighed between 1.3kg and 1.4kg and were delivered through Caesarean section.

Hospital medical director Dr Mohammed Nur Abdulahi told the BBC at the time that Bedriya had conceived naturally, without the aid of in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

IVF can increase the likelihood of multiple births when more than one embryo is transferred.

Kanini did not reveal whether she had conceived naturally or through IVF, but said she was very happy with the outcome, marking her third delivery.

"I was not afraid, the way I have been attended to has made me happy," she said, commending the doctors, nurses and Kiambu county leadership for the quality of healthcare.

"My babies were put in nurseries and attended to well," she said.

Kanini revealed that this was her third pregnancy, having previously given birth to a boy and a daughter.

Her husband, Evans Nyamhanga, described the birth as nothing short of a miracle.