Hospitals in Nairobi and Murang’a are currently facing immense pressure and struggling to cope with a significant surge in patient numbers. This influx is a direct consequence of the ongoing doctors' strike in neighboring Kiambu County, which has paralyzed health services and pushed desperate patients to the few functional public facilities in the region. Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and Murang’a Level 5 Hospital are among those bearing the brunt, operating critical departments beyond their normal capacity.

KNH Acting Chief Executive Officer Richard Lesiyampe confirmed the severe strain, noting that the hospital is receiving a high volume of referrals from counties like Nairobi and Kiambu where medical services have been crippled. This situation has led to severe overcrowding, stretched staff, and limited resources. Despite these challenges, Lesiyampe assured the public that KNH teams are working tirelessly to manage the situation and sustain essential services, striving to deliver quality care under duress.

Similarly, in Murang’a County, Governor Irungu Kang’ata reported that county hospitals are now treating over 2,000 outpatients and 500 inpatients daily, far exceeding their standard capacity. While improved infrastructure and services in Murang’a have made its hospitals more attractive, the ongoing strike in neighboring counties has pushed their systems to the limit. Kang’ata observed that the rising patient load has resulted in overcrowded wards, staff fatigue, and difficulties in maintaining hygiene standards. To mitigate these issues, Murang’a County is constructing a new ward, expanding its outpatient department, refurbishing existing wards, and recruiting additional medical staff. The county is also decentralizing services to smaller hospitals and seeking support from national government and donors, with a firm commitment to not turn away any patient in need.

The doctors in Kiambu County have been on strike since May 26, lasting over four months, due to unresolved grievances including unpaid salaries, stalled promotions, and poor working conditions. The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) attributes the prolonged industrial action to the county's failure to honor previous agreements, leading to understaffed hospitals and unattended patients. This has triggered a profound health crisis, compelling hundreds of patients to seek care in facilities across Nairobi, Murang’a, and other regions.

Former Kiambu Governor James Nyoro has strongly criticized the government’s handling of these health worker strikes, warning that delayed intervention has directly led to loss of life and exposed systemic failures within the healthcare system. Speaking on Spice FM, Nyoro questioned the rationale behind prolonged strikes when return-to-work agreements typically lead to doctors being paid and their conditions met eventually. He emphasized the senselessness of losing lives and services only to address the demands later, advocating for proactive planning and arbitration mechanisms to prevent future crises. Nyoro stressed the need for a “disaster plan” to facilitate arbitration in disagreements and prevent patient suffering, highlighting that leadership failures often allow such crises to escalate.

A major point of contention has been the KMPDU’s report of at least 132 infants dying in Kiambu County since the strike began in May, directly linking these deaths to the prolonged industrial action. KMPDU Secretary-General Dr. Davji Atellah condemned the Council of Governors (CoG) for dismissing these claims as a ‘witch-hunt,’ accusing the county of ignoring a genuine health crisis. Atellah called for an immediate cessation of public relations tactics and urged genuine engagement with KMPDU leadership to restore functionality in Kiambu’s health system and other affected counties, even suggesting the dissolution of the Kiambu County Government by the President.

However, CoG Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi rejected the union’s figures, branding them as misleading and an attempt to tarnish devolution. He categorically stated that the reports of 136 infant deaths were not factual but a ‘pure witch-hunt.’ Kiambu County Chief Officer of Health Services, Dr. Patrick Nyagah, also disputed the numbers, reporting only 53 neonatal deaths at Kiambu Level 5 Hospital between May and August. KMPDU, conversely, maintains that 68 babies died at Kiambu Level 5 Hospital and another 68 at Thika Level 5 Hospital during the same period, further warning that the situation deteriorated in September with over 50 deaths reported at just two facilities. Nyoro reiterated his call for national and county leaders to anticipate health needs and act decisively before vulnerable patients are forced to resort to public protests, emphasizing that universal health coverage must be implemented with the people's needs at its core.