- A coalition of doctors, pharmacists and dentists in Kenya (KMPDU) announced a national strike scheduled for October 25
- The move followed anger due to allegations of 136 child deaths in Kiambu County, causing a conflict between doctors and governors
- The coalition accused the Council of Governors (COG) of ignoring health crisis and protecting county leaders from accountability
- KMPDU apologized for public apology, independent investigations, and even demanding that the Kiambu County government be broken
Doctors have shouted about the poor health conditions in Kiambu.
Source: Twitter
A coalition of doctors, pharmacists and dentists in Kenya (KMPDU) announced plans for a national strike later this month, citing allegations of the deaths of 136 newborns.
The decision followed a fierce dispute between the Council of Governors (COG) in connection with the allegations of the deaths of 136 children born in Kiambu County.
KMPDU responds
In a statement issued on Monday, October 6, the doctors’ association condemned the governors for dismissing media reports and health concerns about the deaths, saying their response showed “completely apathy.”
The coalition said governors had failed to recognize the seriousness of the situation, where public hospitals for several months have been interrupted due to shortage of workers, poor equipment and lack of basic equipment.
“How many more children should die before the Kiambu and COG County government takes action? Will it take a tax of 500 or one thousand to drop from your tall towers and acknowledge the tears of mothers suffering in poor neighborhoods and Kiambu villages?” KMPDU questioned.
Earlier, COG chairman and governor of Wajir Ahmed Abdullahi defended Kiambu governor Kimani Wamata, insisting that the county’s health system is working and that allegations of many infant deaths were unconfirmed rumors.
Abdullahi accused critics of incorporating politics into health issues to undermine the reputation of county governments, holding that Kiambu doctors were in turns and hospitals were working.
KMPDU dismissed his statement and spoke of misleading and separating himself from the truth. The coalition accused governors of hypocrisy, saying they were happy to find private hospitals and overseas treatments while ordinary Kenyans suffered in abandoned county centers.
According to the report, patients have endured difficulties for more than four months while hospitals across Kiambu collapsed under what the trade union called “the managed damage to public health care.”
KMPDU has made allegations to COG regarding allegations of 136 deaths born in Kiambu
The coalition demanded that the Governor’s Council have officially apologized and revoked its original remarks to ignore the conflict.
It has also called for an independent investigation into the deaths of these infants, accusing county leaders of trying to hide widespread negligence.
Source: UGC
Additionally, KMPDU called for the President William Ruto cancel the Kiambu County government, citing poor management and endangering life.
“The president must break the Kiambu County administration for excessive failure and crime in managing the county health sector,” KMPDU said.
A planned strike, the coalition said, is intended to “defend the status of medical profession” and to seek reform to restore stability in the Kenyan health sector.
KMPDU emphasized that doctors will not be quiet while officials ignore patients’ suffering.
“On October 25, Kenyan doctors will take a joint step in solidarity with their counterparts in Kiambu,” the union said. “We are ready to protect the sanctity of life and stand against apathy in our health care system.”
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