The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has raised serious concerns over staffing shortages and preventable patient deaths in Kiambu County hospitals amid an ongoing doctors’ strike.
KMPDU Secretary General Davvji Atellah highlighted that the county’s approach to hospital staffing and patient referrals is putting lives at risk. According to him, the county’s measures to address the strike have been insufficient, relying on temporary hires and interns instead of fully engaging with the union to resolve underlying issues.
“You know, in Kiambu County, we have unprecedented, what we call illegal lockout. We went on strike. But counties thought, instead of engaging and resolving the problems, went into politics and into PR, and the first instance they did was to employ some doctors, about 50 of them, and then they also had interns,” Atellah explained.
Despite the county government’s claims that hospital operations continue normally and mortality rates have not increased, the union stressed that specialized staff are critical for managing complex cases, particularly in pediatric and maternal units. Hospitals are unable to provide comprehensive care when consultants and experienced doctors are absent.
Atellah further revealed that complications in patient care have been reported weekly, with staff unable to manage certain cases due to inadequate staffing. He noted that the ongoing strike has contributed to preventable deaths, particularly among mothers and newborns. The union documented 136 cases in two Level Five hospitals, including detailed patient records. Some families reported losing preterm babies within a month of the strike, despite previously receiving proper care.
Tensions have intensified between the union and the Council of Governors (COG), with COG disputing the reported deaths as inaccurate. Atellah condemned these dismissals as “heartless and insensitive,” accusing county leaders of neglecting a collapsing health system while seeking treatment abroad.
The union is demanding a public apology, an independent probe into the deaths, and even calls for the dissolution of the Kiambu County Government due to alleged negligence. Atellah emphasized that the crisis highlights systemic issues in Kenya’s healthcare system, including underfunding, poor governance, and disregard for the welfare of both patients and medical staff.
