Kiambu dismisses reports of health paralysis due to doctors’ strike
By David Nthua, October 3, 2025Kiambu County Government, through its Chief Officer for Health Patrick Nyagah, has dismissed reports that a doctors’ strike has paralysed health services in the region.
Speaking to a local radio station on Friday, October 3, 2025, Nyagah maintained that all hospitals in Kiambu are operational and continue to serve residents despite ongoing disputes with the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU).
No crisis in Kiambu
Nyagah clarified that, contrary to claims circulating in public, a significant number of doctors are still on duty across the county. “First, I want to take a moment back and correct a few misconceptions.
“The first misconception is that doctors in Kiambu aren’t working, as has been drawn by the union in the public arena. I want to say that doctors in Kiambu are working.
“The question is, how many doctors are on duty? Not all doctors are working, but a sizable proportion are working. All our hospitals are operational,” he said.
The health official dismissed suggestions that Kiambu was facing a crisis, stressing that what exists is a labour dispute and not a collapse of the health system. “If you walk into any hospital in Kiambu at any time of the day, you will get services. We do not have a crisis but a dispute with KMPDU,” Nyagah explained.
His remarks follow union allegations that the doctors’ strike has crippled operations in hospitals, exposing patients to risk. However, Nyagah strongly refuted reports of large-scale deaths or health paralysis in the county.
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The community would raise an alarm
Nyagah further argued that if there had truly been a widespread crisis, it would already be evident in local communities. “If for sure, a village lost, let’s say, 20 babies, there would be huge outcry in villages, churches, hospitals and in the community. You would not need to be given statistics by the doctors to know what is happening. We haven’t had such,” he stated.
The county government has urged calm as engagements between KMPDU and relevant authorities continue. Meanwhile, residents have been assured that medical services remain available in all county hospitals.