Wamuzi News Ke
In an unprecedented escalation, Kenya’s medical unions have threatened to withdraw services nationwide after an armed group violently stormed Kitengela Level 4 Hospital, interrupting an ongoing caesarean section.
The attack has sparked outrage across the health sector.Hospital Under Siege During Emergency Surgery.The Kenyan National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO) and allied health professionals denounced the incursion as “barbaric and senseless,” describing how intruders disrupted surgery, vandalized medical equipment and forced staff to abandon critical procedures mid-operation .
“Patient Lives Thrown into Chaos”KNUMLO President Dr. Jane Mwende warned that the assault crossed all ethical boundaries. “Attacking health workers in the middle of life-saving surgery violates every moral and legal standard.
Patient lives were placed in immediate jeopardy,” she stated in an emergency press call .
National Alarm as Health Sector Prepares to Strike.
In response, Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), KNUMLO, and other bodies have jointly threatened a full withdrawal of non-emergency services unless the government guarantees safety in health facilities.
The strike would affect routine operations across both public and private hospitals, compounding pressure on a system already stretched by Saba Saba-era unrest .
Protest Consequences Reverberate Beyond Clinic Walls.
The incident follows a surge in attacks on healthcare workers during recent protests. Health unions argue this is the tipping point: “Protecting clinics and hospitals must become a priority. Otherwise, more lives will be lost, not just on the streets, but within the wards,” said Dr. Mwende .
Government Faces Pressure for Immediate Response.
Health professionals are demanding swift action:Protection Order: Full security presence in all hospitals nationwide.Justice for Victims: Identification and criminal prosecution of the assailants.
Assurance of Safe Passage: Safe working and emergency conditions for medics during civil disturbances.The Health Cabinet Secretary has received notice from unions and is expected to convene an urgent meeting with stakeholders later today.
What Could Follow.
A health-sector strike could lead to nationwide cancellations of elective surgeries, outpatient clinics, and diagnostic services.Patient care disruption: Chronic patients and reduced emergency capacity may result in avoidable fatalities.
Political backlash: Failure to act fast could ignite national outrage and parliamentary scrutiny over the government’s protection of health workers.
