Senator Karungo Thang’wa has issued an ultimatum to Governor Kimani Wamatangi over the healthcare crisis in Kiambu county.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 6, the senator noted that Kiambu County is in its 70th day of a medical crisis, marked by neglect and failure of leadership.
“Today marks 70 days of medical crisis in Kiambu County – 70 days of preventable suffering, 70 days of administrative failure, and 70 days of a Governor who has abdicated his duty to the people of Kiambu,” Senator Thang’wa noted.
Leaders demand action from Wamatangi on Kiambu healthcare in 70 days. Photo: Courtesy.
The county boss is expected to appear before the Senate on August 7 to push for Thika’s elevation to city status.
Thang’wa in his statement went on to acknowledge that the idea is a step in the right direction, but warned that the healthcare crisis undermines the qualifications required for such a transition.
Thang’wa applied the Urban Areas and Cities Act which outlines minimum service delivery standards that must be met before city status can be granted.
He moreover claimed that hospitals across the county remain non-functional due to a sustained doctors’ strike that has lasted 70 days.
According to the senator, the county is short of more than 300 doctors and warned that 13 major health facilities face closure due to their deteriorating state.
Thang’wa also raised alarm over the exit of medical interns from county hospitals, saying they are unwilling to serve in dangerous and unsupported working environments.
He further accused Wamatangi of defying a High Court order by ignoring the 2024 issued in May, which was intended to resolve the standoff between the county government and health workers.
Thang’wa now wants the Senate to bar Wamatangi from discussing Thika’s city status until the healthcare crisis is resolved.
He also invited striking doctors to attend the Senate Committee on Devolution’s public sitting scheduled for Thursday at 10:00 AM, where the Governor is expected to appear.
