The death of six babies at Thika Level 5 Hospital is to be investigated by a team which includes officials from the Medical Services ministry.
The hospital says four children died in the paediatric ward last week in unclear circumstances.
Other reports, particularly from grieving parents, claim that up to six babies died after the ward ran out of oxygen.
On Sunday, Public Health and Sanitation minister Beth Mugo named a team to look into the deaths after a meeting at the hospital.
The investigation will be led by the Director of Medial Services, Dr Francis Kimani, and the chief executive of the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board, Dr Daniel Yumbya.
“The government takes the matter very seriously. If it is established that there was a human error as a result of negligence, the appropriate action will be taken on whoever was responsible,” said the minister.
“Even one death is not excusable for the lives of Kenyans should come first,” Mrs Mugo said.
She advised the affected families to record statements with the medical board by Wednesday. She asked the public to give information, adding that the investigation will be completed in two weeks and the findings made public.
The hospital superintendent, Dr Jonah Mwangi, named the dead as Salome Njoki Mwaura, (7 months), Lydia Wangui (8 months), Fidelis Wanjiru (11 days) and Ann Mumbua (13 years).
The causes of their deaths were variously described as cardiopulmonary arrest due to pneumonia, meningitis and rheumatic heart disease, according to a report prepared by Dr Mwangi.
Ms Annastacia Ngima, who was nursing her baby in the ward, said nurses had become hostile after media reports on the deaths.
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