Kiambu County’s healthcare system is grappling with a four-month doctors’ strike. The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) claims over 130 newborns died in Kiambu and Thika Level 5 hospitals since May. The Council of Governors, led by Chair Ahmed Abdullahi, defended the county, dismissing these figures as “pure mischief.” The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) is investigating to clarify the truth.
KMPDU expressed fury at the county’s denial, demanding an apology and engagement. National Secretary General Dr. Atella issued a national strike notice for October 25th in solidarity with Kiambu doctors. Dr. Bill Muriuki, Central Branch Secretary, blamed the deaths on ignored referral protocols, unsupervised junior doctors, and breached minimum service standards, severely impacting care quality in the affected facilities.
Appearing on a locat TV station, Kiambu’s Chief Officer for Health, Dr. Patrick Nyaga, insisted hospitals are operational, denying any crisis. He called KMPDU’s figures “erroneous,” noting Thika recorded 11 deaths in September, not the 36 claimed by the union. Nyaga stated Kiambu’s neonatal mortality rate of 8.8 per thousand live births is below national (9.4) and global (12) standards, unaffected by the strike.
The dispute is complicated by the hospitals’ roles as referral centers, where patients often arrive critically ill or deceased. KMPDU relies on facility-level data but hasn’t separated in-hospital deaths from those dead on arrival. Dr. Nyaga noted that data verification involves the Ministry of Health and a USAID-funded NGO monitoring neonatal outcomes. KMPDC’s ongoing investigation aims to resolve these discrepancies.
KMPDC is visiting Kiambu and Thika hospitals today and tomorrow to examine mortality statistics and care quality. Kiambu County claims 12 successful meetings with KMPDU and proposes immediate return to work with later benefits, adhering to court rulings, or forming a negotiation committee to end the strike. Dr. Muriuki insists on direct talks to finalize agreements and resolve the strike.
