Ichung’wah asks Ruto to intervene in Kiambu health row
By Faith Lagat, October 12, 2025National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has urged President William Ruto to step in and address what he termed an escalating health crisis in Kiambu County, following reports that over 100 children and several mothers have died in recent weeks.
Addressing congregants during a church service graced by the president on Sunday, October 12, 2025, Ichung’wah voiced his concern that Kiambu has increasingly come under the national spotlight due to failures in its health sector.
This comes after Kiambu MCAS accused KMPDU of political manipulation.
Doctors’ strike blamed for deaths
The Majority Leader attributed the crisis to a doctors’ strike that has dragged on for 131 days, accusing the county government of failing to engage medics to resolve their grievances.
“It is not because we do not have facilities. It is because our doctors have been forced to down their tools because the county government of Kiambu has refused to engage them,” he stated.
Ichung’wah drew a comparison with Nairobi County, commending Governor Johnson Sakaja for swiftly resolving a similar dispute.
“I thank Governor Sakaja because when doctors in Nairobi downed their tools, he humbled himself and put life ahead of politics and negotiated with his doctors, and they got back to work,” he added.
Also watch: Kiambu governor dismisses claims of hospital crisis as politically motivated.
Political posturing
Ichung’wah did not mince his words in condemning the politicisation of healthcare, expressing deep embarrassment over the situation.
“We stand here today as leaders from Kiambu to tell you we are ashamed, very ashamed, that we can be doing politics with the lives of young newborn children and expectant mothers. I’m sorry to inform your excellency, in Kiambu county, patients are still paying even those who are registered under SHA,” he said.
He further revealed that Kiambu was among the counties that had not signed the national health agreements.
“I know you did not name them, but Kiambu is one of them,” he told the President, urging county leaders to prioritise health over political differences, We do not want to do politics with the lives of our people. And we want to plead with all the leadership in Kiambu County to put life ahead of politics, to put life ahead of our egos,” he said.
Doctors’ protest
In response to the crisis, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union (KMPDU) has pushed back a planned protest in Kiambu from Wednesday, October 8, 2025, to Monday, October 13, 2025.
National Secretary General Davji Atellah said the change was intended to allow for broader coordination with stakeholders.
The unfolding crisis has intensified tensions between KMPDU and the Council of Governors (CoG), chaired by Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi. The union accused the CoG of downplaying reports of 131 newborn deaths, demanding an apology and an independent probe.
“Your attempt to quibble over the number of the dead as if debating whether the toll is plus or minus one is a horrific demonstration of detachment,” the union said. “One life lost is one too many.”
Governor Abdullahi, however, defended the county’s health system, accusing the union of politicising the issue.
“We urge the Ministry of Health and KMPDU to stop politicising health and leave counties to run their affairs,” he stated.