Patients across Nairobi County are enduring worsening agony as the doctors’ and clinical officers’ strike enters its second week. The paralysis in public hospitals has left thousands stranded, with many forced to seek expensive private care or suffer without treatment. The situation has been particularly dire for those with chronic illnesses and emergency cases, as public hospitals struggle to operate without enough medical personnel.
The strike, which has seen over 300 doctors walk off the job, stems from grievances over delayed salaries, stalled promotions, and non-implementation of their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has maintained that the strike will persist until their demands are met. The county government, however, remains unmoved, leading to a standoff that has placed patients in a dangerous limbo.
At Mbagathi Hospital, one of Nairobi’s busiest public health facilities, only two consultation rooms remain open, creating an unbearable backlog of patients. By 5 a.m., the waiting area is already packed, with sick individuals hoping to be among the few lucky ones to be attended to. Some patients, having queued for hours, eventually give up and leave, unable to endure the long, uncertain wait. Those who manage to pay the consultation fee of Sh200 often find themselves shuffled from one department to another, only to be told that no doctors are available.
Many patients have been forced to endure unnecessary suffering. Margaret, who arrived at Mbagathi at dawn seeking a medical report for an accident, recounted her ordeal. Having paid Sh1,300 for several tests, she has been unable to complete her paperwork due to the unavailability of doctors. Her frustration mirrors that of many others, including those with life-threatening conditions who are left with no choice but to wait or seek help elsewhere.
The crisis is not limited to Mbagathi Hospital. At Pumwani Maternity Hospital, pregnant women seeking urgent medical attention are being turned away. Only routine antenatal services remain operational, forcing many expectant mothers to seek alternative care, often at great financial cost. Mercy Wanja, heavily pregnant and visibly distressed, lamented that she had no means to afford private care. “They told me to go to another hospital, but I don’t have the money. I’m in pain, and I don’t know what to do,” she said.
At Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, emergency cases are still being admitted, but the sheer number of patients far outweighs the available resources. Nurses and clinical officers who have remained on duty are stretched beyond their limits, struggling to provide even basic care. Many patients are left unattended for hours, worsening their conditions.
The striking healthcare workers insist that their grievances are long-standing and justified. KMPDU has accused the county government of failing to honor past agreements, including the 2017 CBA that guaranteed better pay and improved working conditions. Some doctors claim they have not been paid for months, while others say they were unfairly dismissed. Instead of engaging in meaningful dialogue, the county has resorted to firing striking workers, further inflaming tensions.
As the strike drags on, thousands of patients remain in limbo, uncertain when, or if, they will receive the care they desperately need. The situation highlights the fragile state of Kenya’s public healthcare system, where strikes have become a recurring crisis, leaving ordinary citizens to bear the brunt of failed negotiations. Without urgent intervention, the suffering will only intensify, making an already dire situation even worse.
