NAIROBI, Kenya – A dire healthcare crisis in Kiambu County has prompted six Members of Parliament to demand that the national government take over devolved health services, as a prolonged doctors’ strike continues to exact a devastating toll. The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) strike, now in its 127th day, has been linked to at least 136 neonatal deaths and 20 maternal fatalities since May, with hospitals like Kiambu Level 5 and Thika Level 5 struggling to function.
On October 2, MPs from Thika Town, Lari, Kabete, Kiambaa, Gatundu North, and Limuru convened a press conference in Nairobi to voice their alarm. Led by Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a, the lawmakers accused the county administration of failing to resolve the labor dispute, which hinges on unpaid salaries, delayed promotions, and the county’s refusal to sign a non-victimization clause to protect returning workers. “Our people are dying because of incompetence and inaction,” Ng’ang’a said. “The national government must intervene to save lives.”
The crisis has left hospitals critically understaffed, with only interns and non-specialist staff handling emergencies. Reports describe patients being referred to Nairobi facilities, often too late, while families recount harrowing experiences of losing loved ones to treatable conditions. The KMPDU claims the strike has led to at least one infant death daily, a figure disputed by County Health Executive Elius Maina. Maina reported 53 neonatal deaths between May and August, insisting many were unrelated to the strike and that hospitals remain operational with 90 doctors reinstated. He urged residents to use lower-level facilities for initial care.
The MPs’ demand for a national takeover invokes Article 186 of the Kenyan Constitution, which allows the central government to assume devolved functions in cases of severe failure. The call reflects growing frustration with devolution’s challenges, as counties like Kiambu grapple with funding shortages and mismanagement. Similar health crises have emerged in Nakuru and Kisumu, raising questions about the sustainability of devolved healthcare.
Governor Wamatangi has not publicly responded to the MPs’ ultimatum, though sources suggest negotiations with the KMPDU are ongoing. Residents, meanwhile, have taken to social media to express their anger, with hashtags demanding accountability trending across platforms. One mother’s post about losing her preterm infant last week captured the public’s grief: “This isn’t politics—it’s survival.”
As the strike’s ripple effects threaten Kiambu’s economy and strain national healthcare systems, the MPs’ plea places pressure on President William Ruto’s administration to act swiftly. With lives hanging in the balance, the coming days will test whether national intervention can restore order to Kiambu’s beleaguered hospitals or if the crisis will deepen, cementing a tragic chapter in Kenya’s devolution story.
