Former Chief Justice David Maraga has criticized the government following the alleged death of 136 newborns in Kiambu County public hospitals in the ongoing doctors’ strike.
In a statement on Friday, October 3, Maraga blamed both the Kiambu County leadership and the national government for the deaths of the infants.
“When the 2010 Constitution was enacted, it promised dignity, the right to life, and the highest attainable standard of health for every citizen. Yet, what we are witnessing today is a healthcare system that is choked with desperate patients and mourning parents who are met with silence, bureaucracy, and collapsed services.
“This is not just a failure of Kiambu County leadership; it is a regime failure, right from the national level,” said Maraga.
The former Chief Justice criticized the Social Health Insurance Fund(SHIF), calling it an act of impunity where deductions are taken from citizens, yet they are treated as expendable when seeking healthcare services.
“Instead of saving lives, SHA has become another layer of inefficiency and political talk, detached from the suffering on the ground and deaf to the people’s cries. We are angry because a child dying daily as a result of political failure is unacceptable,” he stated.
Further, Maraga accused the current government of failing to guarantee the right to life to Kenyans.
“It’s time for a reset to the politics of compassion demanded by our Constitution when it promises a right to inherent dignity and to universal healthcare for all Kenyans,” Maraga added.
Kiambu County doctors have been on strike for the last four months over unpaid salary arrears and poor working conditions.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) alleged that 136 newborns have died in public hospitals across Kiambu county in the last four months due to the absence of medical professionals.
However, Kiambu Health Chief Officer Patrick Nyagah disputed the KMPDU report, saying the county has not recorded 136 infant deaths in recent months
“Beyond any doubt, we have not had 136 babies dying in Kiambu county in recent months,” Nyagah said on Thursday.
