Kiambu: Health services across Kiambu County have continued without interruption despite the ongoing nationwide doctors' strike. Hospitals remain open and fully functional, with additional staffing and resources ensuring patients continue to receive treatment. Kiambu has a total of 123 hospitals, 14 of which are Level 4 and above facilities.
According to Kenya News Agency, the County Health Department Chief Officer Dr Patrick Nyaga stated that these 14 hospitals were fully equipped within the first week of the strike and additional medical workers were deployed to reinforce operations. Today, they continue to run smoothly, offering services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
There are approximately 200 doctors serving in these facilities, distributed across both internship centers and other county hospitals. Four of the hospitals have been certified by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) as internship centers, while the other 10, though not internship centers, remain staffed with qualified doctors providing care to residents.
The strike has largely affected consultant doctors, some senior doctors, and selected pharmacies. However, Dr Nyaga notes that service delivery at county hospitals has not been compromised.
Nyaga said the county has hired 145 doctors to enhance health care provision. Besides, he explained that 52 doctors did not join the strike from the onset, while close to 90 others have since abandoned the industrial action and resumed duty.
He dismissed reports suggesting that healthcare in Kiambu had been paralyzed, attributing them to misinformation. 'The only complaints out there are related to the KMPDU doctors' strike. KMPDU has been at the forefront of misinforming the public about healthcare services in Kiambu. We have been giving services at normal levels for as long as we can remember,' he stated.
Patients at Kiambu Referral Hospital confirmed that services have been running as usual. 'I was worried when I heard about the doctors' strike, but when I came here, I was treated quickly and the doctors were available. For us as patients, the services are still going on,' said Teresa Wakarima, a patient at the hospital.
County officials say their focus remains on ensuring uninterrupted delivery of health services, even as negotiations continue at the national level. The situation in Kiambu demonstrates how strategic staffing, timely communication, and institutional preparedness can help safeguard essential public services in the face of industrial action.