Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has said that 164 newborns and 14 mothers died in Kiambu County during the five-month doctors’ strike that crippled hospital operations and denied thousands of residents medical services.
Appearing before the National Assembly on Wednesday, Duale said the deaths were a tragic reminder of the severe consequences of industrial action in the health sector, describing the situation as unacceptable and deeply regrettable.
“It is very sad. It's unacceptable. It should not happen in any hospital—public, private, or faith-based. During this period of the strike, 164 newborn deaths and 14 maternal deaths were recorded,” he told MPs.
He noted that the figures might not reflect the full extent of the crisis since hospital reporting systems were disrupted during the strike. Maternal and child health services, he said, were the most affected as hospitals across the county operated with minimal staff.
According to the Health CS, attendance in key hospitals, including Thika Level 5 and Kiambu County Referral Hospital, dropped sharply during the industrial action.
The number of patients seeking care fell from 80,452 between June and August 2024 to 54,282 in the same period of 2025, leaving more than 26,000 people without medical attention.
Duale added that the closure of several departments in Kiambu forced many patients to travel to neighbouring counties, overwhelming other facilities such as Kenyatta National Hospital, which handled more than double its usual patient load.
He also warned that some health officials in the county may have failed to record or deliberately altered mortality data, noting that failure to report is an offence under the Digital Health Act, 2023.
He said he had reached out to the Kiambu governor through phone calls, messages, and a formal letter, urging quick intervention to restore essential services.
Earlier in October, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) had reported that more than 105 lives were lost in Kiambu hospitals since the strike began in May.
The union said Thika Level 5 Hospital recorded the highest number of infant deaths, including 34 in September alone.
However, the Kiambu County Government dismissed the figures, accusing KMPDU of exaggerating mortality data for political reasons.
The strike, which lasted for over 150 days, ended on October 24 after the union, the county government, and the Council of Governors signed a return-to-work formula.
KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah said the deal outlined timelines for resolving salary delays, pending promotions, and statutory remittances.
“Today, we have signed a return-to-work formula that provides clear timelines on pending promotions, salary delays, and statutory remittances,” he said.
Under the agreement, Kiambu County committed to complete all pending promotions within six weeks, clear all salary arrears, and ensure monthly remittances to the Social Health Authority and other statutory bodies are made by the 9th of every month.
The signing ceremony was attended by Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, and other officials, marking the end of a months-long health crisis that cost dozens of lives.
