The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union has demanded a public apology from the Council of Governors and urged President William Ruto to dissolve the Kiambu County government following the deaths of 131 newborns during the ongoing doctors’ strike.
The union’s response came after Council of Governors Chair and Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi on Monday dismissed reports of neonatal deaths in Kiambu as “misleading” and based on unverified information. Abdullahi insisted that medical facilities in the county were running normally, claiming that some individuals were using the reports to attack devolution and undermine county health systems.
Doctors in Kiambu have been on strike for four months, pushing for payment of salaries that have been delayed for seven months. The prolonged industrial action has crippled health services in public hospitals, leaving patients without access to essential care.
KMPDU Secretary-General Davji Atellah sharply criticised the governors’ position, describing it as “pure mischief” and accusing them of political malice, indifference, and neglect of their duty to protect life.
“We categorically reject the CoG's assertion that health services in Kiambu are functional and that doctors are on duty. To the CoG, which hospitals are you referring to? The death certificates, the grieving families and the empty cribs speak louder than words,” said Atellah.
“How many more children must die before the County Government of Kiambu and the CoG act? Your attempt to quibble over the precise number of the dead as if debating whether the toll is 'plus or minus one' is a horrific demonstration of your collective detachment.”
Atellah linked the crisis to deep-rooted failures within the county’s health system, accusing Kiambu officials of neglect and mismanagement.
“For 131 days, patients, the very wananchi who pay your hefty salaries, have suffered in dilapidated facilities that bear the hallmarks of looting and supervised destruction of our public healthcare system,” he said.
He called on the Council of Governors to retract its earlier statement and issue a public apology to Kenyans, while urging immediate dialogue with union officials to restore health services.
“The CoG must immediately withdraw its false statement and issue an unreserved public apology to the families of the 131 children and to the Kenyan public,” Atellah said.
“Cease the public relations and engage KMPDU leadership immediately and in good faith to restore functionality in Kiambu's health system and across all affected counties.”
The union further demanded a thorough investigation and public inquiry into the deaths to hold accountable those responsible. Atellah also pressed President Ruto to take firm action against the county leadership.
“The president must dissolve the Kiambu County government for gross failure and criminal negligence in managing the county's health sector,” he said.
“The death of a single child is a national tragedy. The deliberate denial of 131 preventable deaths by those in power is a national disgrace.”