Wamatangi fires striking doctors after boy's death at a Kiambu hospital

Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi on Friday fired doctors at Igegania Level Four Hospital in Gatundu North who refused to attend to an 11-year-old boy, leading to his death.

Speaking at a funeral in Tinganga, Kiambu Township Sub-County, the governor said the medics’ actions were inexcusable, especially since they are on the county payroll.

He said that doctors who are participating in the strike had also been sacked.

The governor said it was unacceptable that doctors who were getting paid by the county would deliberately fail to attend to a sick boy, leading to his death.

The governor was attending the funeral of James Mugo, a logistic officer with the Wamatangi Foundation.

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Wamatangi rubbished claims by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union (KMPDU) that his administration is not paying health workers on time.

The county chief said currently, the county government does not owe any of them a penny and, therefore, participating in the strike, which started on Tuesday, would be met with severe punishment as per labour laws.

"Kiambu County Government has consistently honoured its obligations, including paying salaries of all county workers and doctors on time and without delay. Despite this, it is deeply troubling that some medical professionals have chosen to abandon their duty to serve. This dereliction of duty led to the loss of an innocent baby's life, a tragedy that should never have happened," the governor said.

He added that previously, county workers would go for months without pay but when assumed office in August 2022, the county workers were demanding salaries for three months, which was immediately paid in full.

The boy's family said they had taken him to the facility for treatment over pneumonia on Tuesday, but doctors did not take good care of him because they were on strike, and efforts to refer him to Thika Hospital were rejected by the management at Thika.

Wamatangi said as the governor of Kiambu, he has a responsibility to protect the lives and welfare of our people. Public servants must be held to the highest standards, especially those entrusted with saving lives.

"I cannot and will not tolerate negligence or defiance in our healthcare system," he said.

County Executive Committee Member for Health Dr Elias Maina noted that the regional government has been promoting members of the Respondent in fulfilment of previous resolutions reached after consultative meetings with the doctor's unions.

In March 2023, he said 777 healthcare workers were promoted at an annual cost of Sh100 million.

The event was witnessed by the KMPDU officials, and the next cycle of promotions is being worked on as a budget and appropriations issue.

Further, the County Government of Kiambu has also been recruiting additional healthcare workers, including specialists, clinical officers, and nurses, to address emerging gaps, whereby 77 nurses were employed last year.

The County Public Service Board has already interviewed another 350 nurses. The County public services board advertised for approximately 1,200 healthcare workers across all the carders, and a short listing was done.

The county has also advertised for another set of 21 doctors.

Regarding the alleged unprocedural transfer of doctors contravening the Public Service Commission, Dr Maina said the terms of employment are that one can work anywhere within the county.

"If we allow preference, there are some facilities nobody wants to go to. Situations in hospitals are very dynamic, and managers must respond to the changes to ensure continuity in service provision. All transfers are conducted in a procedural and good-faith manner. Transfers are within the county and, therefore, most of the time, do not qualify for facilitation," he said.

The CECM said that the county had invested billions in the health sector, which gets Sh8 billion of the county's annual budget, to improve our services, and cases of healthcare workers boycotting work on unreasonable grounds, which is compromising service delivery, would not be tolerated.

He added that the country would not allow selfish interests to supersede human life.

According to Dr. Maina, the county was building over 30 new hospitals, upgraded 28 others, and renewed medical equipment by replacing existing ones with advanced machines to improve service delivery.