Photo of an infact at a local hospital in Kenya. Photo/Courtesy
By Daisy Okiring
NAIROBI, Kenya– The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has announced plans for a nationwide strike beginning October 25, citing what it calls “a humanitarian catastrophe” in Kiambu County. The move follows the shocking deaths of 136 newborns in public hospitals over recent months—deaths the union blames on gross negligence, underfunding, and political denial.
In a blistering statement on Monday, KMPDU Secretary-General Dr. Davji Atella accused the Council of Governors (CoG) of ignoring the crisis, saying their dismissive response to the reports was “callous and unbefitting of leaders entrusted with citizens’ lives.”
“For 131 days, patients—the very wananchi who pay your hefty salaries—have suffered in dilapidated facilities that bear the hallmarks of looting,” the union declared. “The governors’ collective response is one of supreme aloofness and unforgivable hypocrisy.”
The union’s warning has intensified debate over the state of Kenya’s devolved healthcare system, with growing calls for accountability amid a pattern of infant mortality and medical staff shortages across several counties.
Governors dismiss claims, call them political
In response, CoG Chairperson and Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi denied that 136 babies had died in Kiambu hospitals, calling the reports “exaggerated and politically motivated.” He said the county’s health facilities remained operational and accused KMPDU of “politicising health.”
“The health function in Kiambu is functional, and we have doctors in all facilities on duty,” Abdullahi stated. “We urge the Ministry of Health and KMPDU to stop interfering with devolved functions. Healthcare cannot be run from Afya House.”
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Governor Kimani Wamatangi of Kiambu has also faced mounting criticism over deteriorating hospital conditions, especially at Kiambu Level 5 Hospital, where nurses have reportedly been working without pay and equipment shortages persist. Local residents claim incubators and essential drugs have been unavailable for months.
Health rights advocates, however, say Abdullahi’s statement reflects a dangerous trend of denial. “We are witnessing a collapse in basic maternal and neonatal care,” said Jane Achieng, a public health researcher. “To dismiss these deaths as rumours is not just irresponsible—it’s inhumane.”
Systemic neglect and human cost
Data from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2023 shows that infant mortality in Kenya stands at 32 deaths per 1,000 live births. However, health experts warn that recent years may have seen spikes in certain counties due to budget shortfalls and staff strikes.
A senior doctor at Kiambu Hospital, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “We’ve lost count of the infants we couldn’t save because of broken incubators, power outages, or lack of oxygen. Every day feels like a nightmare.”
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A recent audit by the Ministry of Health revealed that at least 40 percent of county hospitals lack essential equipment for neonatal care, while 27 counties are facing acute shortages of medical personnel. “In some counties, one nurse handles over 40 patients per shift,” said Dr. Atella. “This is a system on the brink of total collapse.”
KMPDU now wants President William Ruto to intervene by ordering an independent investigation into the Kiambu deaths and dissolving the county’s health administration. “The government cannot claim to value life while babies are dying in public hospitals,” the union said.
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National strike looms as medics demand accountability
The union has given the government until October 25 to act, warning that doctors nationwide will walk out if no steps are taken to address the crisis. The planned strike is expected to paralyse services in public hospitals, similar to the 100-day doctors’ strike in 2017 that crippled the country’s health system.
“This is not just about Kiambu,” said Dr. Atella. “It’s about a broken system that keeps repeating tragedies and a leadership that refuses to learn.”
Civil society groups have thrown their weight behind the union, calling for urgent reforms in healthcare financing and management. Amnesty International Kenya termed the deaths “a preventable tragedy rooted in corruption and neglect.”
World Health Organization (WHO) data shows Kenya loses over 17,000 newborns annually due to preventable causes such as asphyxia, sepsis, and haemorrhage—figures that have barely improved despite repeated government pledges. UNICEF has urged counties to increase investments in maternal and neonatal care, warning that “inaction will continue to cost lives.”
As Kenya braces for the looming strike, the question remains whether leaders will act before more lives are lost. For the families in Kiambu mourning their babies, justice and accountability remain distant dreams.
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