Members of the Kiambu County Assembly have strongly condemned Monday’s street demonstrations led by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), dismissing the protestors as “hired people wearing lab coats” and accusing local Members of Parliament (MPs) of funding the unrest for political gain against Governor Kimani Wamatangi.
The demonstrations, which included chanting and the use of vuvuzelas outside the Kiambu Level Five Hospital, were termed “shameful” and a “disturbance to the sick” by Geoffrey Muceke, MCA for Kalimoni and the Leader of Majority.
“We saw people wearing lab coats demonstrating outside Kiambu Hospital, which is shameful, as this is a disturbance to the patients who had come to seek treatment,” Muceke stated.
Muceke openly linked the union’s grievances to the county government’s refusal to collect union fees for KMPDU. “We will not collect union fees for KMPDU and that is why they have a problem with the county government,” he asserted.
He further escalated the claims, alleging that the protests were financially backed by rival MPs.
“Members of Parliament have ganged up together against our Governor and we saw staff members of the MPs’ office take part in the demonstrations. We are aware that Ksh 750,000 was contributed to fund the demonstrations,” Muceke claimed.
The MCA also cautioned the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Aden Duale, against being drawn into what he termed the “murky politics” of Kiambu County. Muceke urged the CS to conduct a fact-finding mission at Kiambu hospitals instead of relying on statements made in Nairobi or playing “into the gallery of Kiambu MPs.”
This sentiment was echoed by Peter Wainana, MCA for Karuri, who called on CS Duale to cease listening to Kiambu MPs whom he accused of using the health department to advance their own agenda. “Health is devolved and as Kiambu leaders we should come together and support the health sector and not fight. CS Duale stop listening to the Kiambu MPs who are fight the efforts being done by the county government,” Wainana pleaded.
Assembly members were unified in their assurance to residents that county hospitals remain operational despite the ongoing nationwide doctors’ strike.
John Njiru, MCA for Hospital Ward and Deputy Speaker, dismissed reports of a mortality crisis, stating, “We visited Kiambu hospitals and we have the correct data of mortality and there are no deaths that are occurring.”
He urged residents to ignore “naysayers” and seek treatment, noting that a significant portion of the workforce remains on the job. “Three quarters of the doctors are still working, nurses clinical officers and other health personnel are still working in our hospitals,” Njiru said, encouraging the public to “have confidence” in the county’s facilities.
Joseph Muhinja, MCA for Githunguri and Chairperson of the Assembly Health Committee, supported this view, assuring the public that reports of hospitals being in poor condition are mere rumors. “As an assembly committee on health we assure Kiambu residents that hospitals are running well and we have gone round the hospitals being said that are not working are just rumours and we invite anyone to go and check for themselves,” he stated.
Furthermore, Grace Hinga, MCA for Kabete, dispelled rumors that the county government had hired women with newborn children for a public relations stunt at Thika Level Five Hospital, confirming that the mothers seen had genuinely given birth at the facility.
Despite the Assembly’s reassurances, the overarching health crisis in Kiambu County remains dire, mirroring the national situation where the doctors’ strike continues. With neither the Kiambu County Government nor KMPDU showing signs of backing down, essential services are severely strained, leaving patients to bear the brunt of the impasse.
