Kenyan Nurse in UK Celebrated for Saving Baby's Life in Dramatic Hospital Drama

Country: United Kingdom
Date Published: December 9, 2025

Nairobi, Kenya – A Kenyan nurse working in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) has gone viral on X (formerly Twitter) after her quick thinking saved a newborn's life during a chaotic delivery room emergency. Mary Wanjiku, a 32-year-old nurse from Kiambu County based at Queen's Hospital in Romford, London, was hailed as a hero in a thread posted by verified NHS account @NHSEnglandLondon on December 9, which garnered over 15,000 likes and thousands of retweets within hours. The post detailed how Wanjiku performed an emergency tracheotomy on the infant using improvised tools when standard equipment failed, stabilizing the baby until surgeons arrived.

The story exploded across Kenyan diaspora communities on X, with influencers like @KenyansInUK (a popular account with 50k followers) sharing a video clip of Wanjiku receiving commendation from hospital staff. "From the streets of Kenya to saving lives in London! Proud of our own Mary Wanjiku," the tweet read, sparking a flood of responses from regular users. Comments poured in from Kenyans abroad, including one from @DiasporaKenyan: "This is why we hustle abroad – skills that change lives! #KenyansAbroad." The thread also featured photos of Wanjiku with the grateful parents, amplifying the positive buzz amid ongoing NHS staffing shortages discussions.

Wanjiku, who moved to the UK three years ago after qualifying as a nurse in Kenya, shared her own modest X post late on December 9: "Just doing my job. Prayers for baby A and family. God is good 🙏 #NHSHeroes." Her update received endorsements from Kenyan celebrities like musician Sauti Sol's Bien, who reposted with, "Real MVPs out here. Kenya to the world!" The incident has reignited conversations on X about the vital role of Kenyan healthcare workers in the UK, where over 10,000 Kenyans are employed in the NHS, often filling critical gaps.

However, the celebration wasn't without controversy. Some X users criticized the UK's immigration policies, with @KenyaDiasporaWatch tweeting, "Mary saves lives but faces visa battles. When will UK value our nurses properly?" sparking debates with over 2,000 replies. Others highlighted exploitation concerns, referencing recent threads on low pay for overseas staff. Despite the mixed tones, Wanjiku's story dominated Kenyan X trends under #NurseMaryHero, underscoring the dual narrative of pride and challenges for Kenyans abroad. Hospital officials confirmed an official commendation is forthcoming, as discussions continue to trend into December 10.