The Council of Governors (CoG) has come out strongly to dismiss claims by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) regarding the alleged deaths of 136 infants in Kiambu County, terming the reports as misleading and politically motivated.
In a statement read by its chairman, H.E. Ahmed Abdullahi EGH, the council described the reports as “pure witch-hunt”, urging the Ministry of Health and KMPDU to refrain from politicizing healthcare matters and instead allow county governments to execute their devolved health functions.
“On health issues in Kiambu County, the council disassociates itself from the headlines about the death of 136 babies and categorically states that it is not factual — it is pure witch-hunt. The health function in Kiambu is functional. Kiambu has doctors in all of its facilities and they are all on duty,” Abdullahi stated.
The CoG further emphasized that healthcare is a devolved function, and the County Government of Kiambu has the full mandate to manage it. The chairman cautioned against interference from the national government and external players who, he said, are attempting to tarnish the image of devolution.
“We urge the Ministry of Health and KMPDU to stop politicizing health and leave the level of government with the mandate to run healthcare. Health should not be run from Afya House in Nairobi,” the statement continued.
Governor Abdullahi also called for restraint, urging leaders to keep politics out of healthcare delivery. He lamented that sensational media coverage and negative publicity were undermining the progress made by counties in improving healthcare services.
“Health care cannot be run through PR or publicity, whether good or bad. It doesn’t help to have negative publicity about county health functions. When someone uses conspicuous space in the newspaper claiming Kiambu lost 136 babies, then hides an apology in a small line somewhere, it’s clear the intention was to tarnish the Governor’s name,” he added.
The CoG chairman further reminded KMPDU that county governments are the legal employers of health workers and warned the union against making inflammatory statements that could destabilize healthcare operations.
The statement came just days after a section of Kiambu MPs held a press conference urging the national government to intervene, alleging that healthcare in the county was deteriorating due to an ongoing doctors’ strike.
However, the County Government of Kiambu maintained that it would not pay striking doctors, noting that their efforts to hire replacements had initially been hampered by a court case filed by KMPDU — a case that has since been lifted, allowing the county to recruit new medical officers.
Speaking separately on Sunday during a church service at PCEA Kiamathare in Githunguri, Governor Kimani Wamatangi dismissed the reports as “lies and propaganda”, accusing his political rivals of attempting to drag him into early campaigns.
“All those stories making headlines about Kiambu’s healthcare are pure propaganda. Some politicians want to throw me into early politics, but I will not fall into that trap,” said Wamatangi.
The CoG’s defense comes amid growing political tension and scrutiny over the state of healthcare in Kiambu County, underscoring the delicate balance between governance, service delivery, and politics in devolved units.
