The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has demanded a public apology from the Council of Governors (CoG) and called on President William Ruto to dissolve the Kiambu County government following the deaths of over 130 newborns amid an ongoing doctors’ strike.
This comes after CoG Chair and Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi earlier rejected reports of neonatal deaths in Kiambu County, describing them as misleading and not based on verified data.
Abdullahi also asserted that medical facilities in Kiambu were operating optimally, while accusing unnamed forces of using the reports to undermine devolution and discredit county health systems.
Doctors in Kiambu County have been on strike for the past four months, demanding salaries that are seven months overdue.
In a strongly worded statement, KMPDU Secretary-General, Dr Davji Atellah, described the CoG’s dismissal of the deaths as "pure mischief" and accused governors of showing "indifference, political malice and a shameful dereliction of duty to protect life."
CoG's assertion rejected
"We categorically reject the CoG's assertion that health services in Kiambu are functional and that doctors are on duty. To the CoG, which hospitals are you referring to? The death certificates, the grieving families and the empty cribs speak louder than words," said Atellah.
"How many more children must die before the County Government of Kiambu and the CoG act? Your attempt to quibble over the precise number of the dead as if debating whether the toll is 'plus or minus one' is a horrific demonstration of your collective detachment."
According to Atellah, the ongoing strike in Kiambu County is a direct result of systemic failures, broken promises, and blatant neglect by the county government.
"For 131 days, patients, the very wananchi who pay your hefty salaries, have suffered in dilapidated facilities that bear the hallmarks of looting and supervised destruction of our public healthcare system," he said.
Atellah urged the CoG to withdraw its initial statement and issue a public apology to Kenyans, while also calling on the council to engage union leaders immediately to restore health services in Kiambu and other affected counties.
Withdraw false statement
"The CoG must immediately withdraw its false statement and issue an unreserved public apology to the families of the 131 children and to the Kenyan public," he said.
"Cease the public relations and engage KMPDU leadership immediately and in good faith to restore functionality in Kiambu's health system and across all affected counties."
KMPDU also called for a transparent investigation and public inquiry into the 131 documented neonatal deaths to ensure accountability for responsible officials, while urging President Ruto to disband the Kiambu County government.
"The president must dissolve the Kiambu County government for gross failure and criminal negligence in managing the county's health sector," said Atellah.
"The death of a single child is a national tragedy. The deliberate denial of 131 preventable deaths by those in power is a national disgrace."
