CoG defends Wamatangi amid growing Kiambu health crisis concern

The Council of Governors (CoG) has defended Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi, dismissing reports that 136 newborns have died in the county due to an ongoing doctors’ strike.

Speaking on Monday after his re-election as CoG chairperson, Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi described the reports as baseless and politically motivated, accusing the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) of attempting to malign Wamatangi’s leadership.

“The council dissociates itself from the headlines on the death of 136 babies and categorically states that it is not factual. It is pure witch-hunt against our Kiambu counterpart,” Abdullahi said.

He insisted that the county’s health facilities remain operational, with adequate medical personnel on duty.

“Whatever is in the media is just propaganda. The Kiambu health docket is fully functional with enough doctors in all its facilities, and they are on duty serving residents,” he said. 

However, the controversy comes amid growing public concern over deteriorating healthcare services in Kiambu County.

Residents have raised complaints of long queues, drug shortages, and understaffed facilities since the onset of the doctors’ strike.

Several health facilities, including Thika Level Five Hospital and Kiambu Level Five Hospital, have reported limited service delivery, with emergency and maternity wards particularly strained.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that the crisis has forced patients to seek care in neighbouring counties such as Nairobi and Murang’a.

KMPDU officials have accused the county of neglecting healthcare workers and failing to honour previous agreements on salaries and promotions.

The union maintains that the situation in Kiambu reflects a deeper crisis in county health management, warning that continued denial could worsen conditions in public hospitals.

But Abdullahi dismissed the union’s claims as politically driven, urging both KMPDU and the Ministry of Health to desist from politicising healthcare and allow counties to manage the sector independently.

“The level of government mandated to run health in Kiambu is the county government. It is not supposed to be run from Afya House in Nairobi. Health is a devolved function, and counties should be allowed to work without external interference,” he said. The CoG also cautioned KMPDU against pressuring governors over doctors’ salary deductions, asserting that counties are under no legal obligation to remit them.

“We are the employers of those benefiting from the deductions. Nothing compels us to send the deductions; we do it out of goodwill. We are not tax collectors,” Abdullahi added.

The council polls, held at the CoG offices, saw Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga retain his post as vice-chair, while Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki replaced Nandi Governor Stephen Sang as Whip.

Other governors assigned to various CoG committees include Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka (Agriculture); Kakamega’s Fernandes Barasa (Finance and Planning); Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir (Health); and Vihiga Governor Wilber Ottichilo (Environment).

Nandi Governor Stephen Sang will now oversee Resource Mobilisation, while Garissa’s Nadhif Aden will handle Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) affairs. Busia Governor Paul Otuoma will lead the Blue Economy docket, while Bomet’s Eric Mutai will manage Education.

West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin will chair the Gender Committee, with Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga heading Human Resource and Labour.

Elgeyo Marakwet’s Wesley Rotich will lead ICT, Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o will chair Lands and Housing, and Migori Governor Ochillo Ayacko will head Legal Affairs docket.

Abdullahi’s re-election signals continuity in the council’s leadership at a time when counties are grappling with stalled funding and disrupted service delivery linked to the national government’s electronic procurement system (e-GP).

During the 28th Ordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) last week, Abdullahi criticised the rollout of the e-GP, saying it had paralysed county operations by delaying payments and essential services, including health. “This quarter has been disastrous. We have not been able to spend money at all due to the challenges we’ve faced,” he said, noting that hospitals, fuel suppliers, and sanitation departments were among the most affected.

“Despite the court ruling that counties can procure either electronically or manually, I can conclusively say that no county has been able to procure even a pen through the e-procurement system,” he added.

Abdullahi called on the national government to review the system and train county staff before full implementation.