Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa has delivered a stern warning to Governor Kimani Wamatangi, giving him just seven days to resolve the worsening doctors’ strike that has paralyzed health services in Kiambu County for nearly two months.
Speaking on Thursday, July 24, Senator Karungo stated that if the governor does not take meaningful action within the given timeframe, he will officially move a motion in the Senate to summon Wamatangi and demand answers.
The senator accused the county boss of negligence, blaming him for failing to address the concerns raised by medical workers.
Doctors in Kiambu have been on strike for 58 days, citing lack of promotions, poor working conditions, intimidation of whistleblowers, and inadequate medical insurance.
The prolonged industrial action has crippled operations across public hospitals in the region, leaving thousands of residents without access to essential healthcare services.
Senator Karungo termed the ongoing strike as both “irresponsible” and “shameful,” warning that continued inaction would not only risk more lives but also affect the county’s finances.
“As the duly elected Senator for Kiambu, I stand in full support of the healthcare workers who have been abandoned by their employer and whose valid demands have been ignored. Our people’s health and lives should never be jeopardized by political arrogance or bureaucratic laziness,” Karungo declared.
He went on to say, “Governor Wamatangi has seven days to act and resolve this crisis. Should he fail, I will not hesitate to file a motion in the Senate to summon him and have him account for his failure to lead in this matter.”
The senator also called out the county’s apparent double standards, highlighting that while it boasts of increased revenue collections—most of it reportedly generated from health facilities—it has failed to channel that income back into improving healthcare services or supporting medical staff.
“It’s outrageous that a county claiming record-breaking revenue collections cannot afford to pay or support the very doctors who make those collections possible. The leadership has its priorities completely upside down,” Karungo criticized.
The situation has also caught the attention of national leaders. Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Davji Atellah recently threatened a nationwide doctors’ walkout if the government fails to take decisive steps to end the stalemate in Kiambu.
In his statement on Monday, July 21, Atellah urged the Ministry of Health to pull out all medical interns working in Kiambu County, saying the local administration is incapable of providing them with a conducive training and work environment.
Efforts by the union to engage Kiambu county officials in talks have so far borne no fruit. Atellah criticized the county for showing no willingness to compromise or even listen to the grievances of its health professionals.
“This strike is not just about salaries or promotions. It’s about restoring the dignity of both our doctors and the patients they serve. Today marks day 55 of this strike, and there’s still no end in sight. The county government continues to act unreasonably and irresponsibly,” he lamented.
The standoff has left public hospitals stretched thin, with most facilities either shut down or offering only minimal services. Unless a breakthrough is reached soon, the health crisis in Kiambu threatens to grow into a national issue.
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