Over 160 newborns, 14 mothers died during Kiambu doctors’ strike - Health CS Aden Duale

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale. (Photo: Aden Duale/X)

By Lucy Mumbi
Thursday, November 6, 2025

Aden Duale noted that maternal and newborn services were among the worst affected as public hospitals scaled down operations during the industrial action.

Over 160 newborns and 14 mothers died in Kiambu County during the five-month doctors’ strike, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has revealed.

Appearing before Members of Parliament on Wednesday, Duale described the deaths as “unacceptable and deeply regrettable”.

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“It is very sad. It’s unacceptable. It should not happen in any hospital, public, private, or faith-based. During this period of the strike, 164 newborn deaths and 14 maternal deaths were recorded,” he said, warning that due to reporting disruptions, the figures could be understated.

He noted that maternal and newborn services were among the worst affected as public hospitals scaled down operations during the industrial action.

Outpatient visits at Thika Level 5 and Kiambu County Referral Hospital fell sharply compared to the same period last year, dropping from 80,452 patients between June and August 2024 to 54,282 during the strike in 2025, meaning over 26,000 people missed accessing care in the county.

The disruption also pushed many patients to seek services in neighbouring counties, putting additional strain on facilities such as Kenyatta National Hospital, which handled more than twice its usual capacity during this period.

Duale warned that some health staff in Kiambu may have failed to file or potentially falsified mortality data, noting that non-reporting is a criminal offence under the Digital Health Act, 2023. He added that he had formally engaged the Kiambu governor by phone and text, urging prompt resolution in the public interest to prevent further service disruptions.

Governor Kimani Wamatangi has repeatedly stated that the county did not record any maternal deaths for eight consecutive months. However, Duale challenged the assertion, stating that the reported maternal mortality figures were inaccurate

“The maternal mortality figures given for Kiambu County are not correct. It’s wrong, and I think it’s good that you withdraw it. Many mothers died, particularly when doctors were on strike,” Duale told senators.

He was responding to questions on the state of healthcare services under the new Social Health Authority (SHA).

“I have the names of the mothers and the newborns,” Duale said, adding that the ministry’s data supports concerns raised by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU).

“Before the strike, Kiambu was doing well. But as the Minister for Health, I want to confirm to the nation that several maternal deaths occurred, and I’m ready to provide that evidence,” he added.

On October 1, KMPDU reported that more than 105 lives had been lost in Kiambu hospitals since the strike began in May. KMPDU chairperson James Githinji, the union said two hospitals in the county recorded 53 infant deaths in September alone.

The statement cited data showing 18 infant deaths each in May and June, 14 in July, 18 in August, and 34 newborn deaths in September at Thika Level 5 Hospital.

KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah further claimed that patients seeking care in neighbouring counties faced delays and difficulties, including transfers in poorly equipped ambulances.