Obstetric fistula is caused by prolonged obstructed labour, and affects about 1% of women in Kenya. Although early treatment is recommended, women live with the condition for many years and endure physical, psychological and social suffering. To document the experiences of women with fistula illness. Using grounded theory methodology, narratives focusing on labour and childbirth were obtained from a purposive sample of 121 patients with obstetric fistula in 3 hospitals in Kenya.