Kiambu County officials have dismissed claims by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) that 136 newborns have died in county hospitals in recent months.
Speaking during an interview on NTV on Tuesday, October 7, County Health Officer Patrick Nyagah accused the doctors’ union of exaggerating figures to create public panic and tarnish the county government’s image.
According to Nyagah, many of the numbers cited by KMPDU were unverified and misleading. He explained that in several cases, the reported deaths occurred in referral facilities, where some of the “deaths” may have been of infants who were already deceased upon arrival.
“When we look at these alarmist numbers, we find that in every category, they have doubled the figures. This is malice, putting out numbers that do not exist,” Nyagah stated.
He further clarified that the county’s own data showed no unusual increase in newborn deaths compared to previous years, even during periods without strikes or disputes in the health sector.
Nyagah cited Thika Level Five Hospital as an example, noting that while KMPDU reported 36 newborn deaths in September, official county records showed only 11.
He also revealed that the Ministry of Health has a dedicated department responsible for collecting, verifying, and authenticating hospital statistics. The verification process, he said, relies on three key metrics believability, accuracy, and completeness to ensure reliable data.
Nyagah’s remarks came just hours after KMPDU threatened to launch a nationwide strike, escalating tensions between the union and county governments. The doctors’ body has accused counties of negligence and poor working conditions in public hospitals, but Kiambu maintains that the union’s claims are based on distorted information meant to incite fear.
