The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has strongly condemned the Council of Governors (CoG) over what it termed as “callous insensitivity and disdain” following the deaths of 131 newborns in Kiambu County.
In a strongly worded statement dated October 6, 2025, KMPDU accused the CoG of dismissing the deaths as “pure mischief” and a “false publication,” describing the remarks as heartless, contemptuous and a reflection of systemic rot within Kenya’s healthcare governance.
“The CoG’s attempt to dismiss the tragic and documented deaths of 131 newborns is not merely a distortion of fact; it is a grotesque display of indifference, political malice, and a shameful dereliction of duty to protect life,” the union stated.
KMPDU accused the 47 county governors of living in “high towers” while mothers in Kiambu and other parts of Kenya mourn in silence. The union criticized the assertion by the CoG that health services in Kiambu are “functional” and that doctors are “on duty,” calling it a blatant misrepresentation of the dire situation on the ground.
The union further questioned how many more children must die before county and national leaders take responsibility, calling the deaths “a national tragedy and a moral failure.”
In its follow-up statement titled “An Accusation of Aloofness and Hypocrisy,” KMPDU laid out four key demands to the CoG and the national government:
- Public Retraction and Apology: The CoG must immediately withdraw its statement and apologize publicly to the families of the deceased children and to all Kenyans.
- Meaningful Engagement: The CoG must cease what the union termed “a public relations war” and instead engage KMPDU leadership to restore healthcare services in Kiambu and other affected regions.
- Independent Investigation: A transparent and public inquiry should be launched into the 131 neonatal deaths to ensure accountability for all culpable officials.
- Immediate Resignation or Dissolution: KMPDU called for the dissolution of the Kiambu County Government over “gross failure and criminal negligence” in managing the health sector.
“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,” read part of the statement.
In a subsequent letter signed by Dr. Davji Atellah, KMPDU’s Secretary General and CEO, the union announced its next course of action , a national doctors’ strike starting on October 25, 2025.
“Kenyan doctors will take collective action in solidarity with their Kiambu colleagues through the issuance of a National Strike Notice to protect the dignity of the medical profession and to defend the sanctity of life and healthcare in Kenya,” Dr. Atellah said.
The union emphasized that the industrial action is not just about Kiambu but a wider protest against systemic failures, broken promises and inadequate healthcare infrastructure across the country.
KMPDU’s move underscores deep-seated tensions between medical professionals and county administrations. Since the devolution of healthcare, doctors have repeatedly voiced frustrations over delayed salaries, understaffing and poor working conditions in public hospitals.
The union’s latest stance highlights a growing call for systemic reform, accountability and prioritization of healthcare funding and management.
As Kenya braces for a possible nationwide doctors’ strike, thousands of patients could be affected if no resolution is reached. The union maintains, however, that the strike is a necessary step to defend both the rights of healthcare workers and the dignity of patients who continue to suffer under failing systems.
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