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There were no angry chants or hospital gate protests this time. What happened across Kiambu County hospitals was quieter — and far more serious. More than 120 medical officers, including doctors, dentists, and pharmacists, officially filed requests to be transferred from public facilities, all within 48 hours.
What looked like an ordinary day in the health sector quickly turned into a staffing crisis.
According to union leaders, this wasn’t a traditional strike. It was survival. Doctors have lost patience with a system they say is broken beyond repair. The real story, they insist, isn’t about defiance — it’s about fear, burnout, and long-standing neglect.
Many of the doctors had worked in the same position for over a decade without a single promotion. Some had taken on more duties without additional pay. Others had been promised career progression that never came.
“In some counties, doctors grow. In Kiambu, they’re stuck,” said one union official who requested anonymity. “What we’re seeing now is not sabotage. It’s a coordinated exit.”
The county government, according to internal memos seen by the union, has been aware of this problem for years. However, repeated requests for action were either ignored or delayed indefinitely.
Things got worse when doctors began raising safety concerns — lack of equipment, poor infrastructure, and no medical insurance coverage in some facilities. Instead of getting support, many were reportedly punished.
“Doctors who spoke up were transferred suddenly, often to remote clinics,” the union claims. “This is a toxic environment, not a workplace.”
The fear of backlash turned into silence. Silence eventually became withdrawal.
Sources say the Kiambu County Government attempted to block the exits through legal channels at the last minute. However, courts did not issue orders to stop the walkouts. With no legal hold in place, the transfer requests are being processed.
The county’s attempt to delay or downplay the crisis now appears to have backfired. What was once an internal issue has turned into a public emergency.
In the wake of the walkout, only emergency services remain functional in most facilities — and even those are short-staffed. Under a basic staffing plan, only one doctor per hospital is handling critical cases, with stabilized patients referred to major centers like Kiambu Level V and Thika Level V.
Routine services such as clinics, elective surgeries, and follow-ups have been suspended indefinitely.
Patients arriving at local hospitals are being turned away or redirected, as remaining staff struggle to hold the line.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) says it warned the county long ago. In their view, the current chaos could have been avoided with serious negotiation and investment.
“This is not a protest. It’s the natural outcome of ignoring doctors for too long,” said Dr. Bill Muriuki, KMPDU Central Branch Secretary.
“We’re still open to talks. But until this county treats healthcare workers with respect and seriousness, this situation won’t improve.”
Conclusion
Kiambu’s healthcare system is now in emergency mode, not because of a sudden strike, but due to years of quiet frustration finally reaching its breaking point. The message from medical workers is loud and clear — if the system won’t support them, they won’t stay in it. Unless the county acts fast, this may just be the start of more walkouts in other sectors too.
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