Kiambu County Governor Kimani Wamatangi has strongly refuted claims of a severe health crisis and high infant mortality in the county, describing them as politically motivated fabrications aimed at undermining his leadership. Speaking at a church service in Ngoliba on October 12, 2025, the governor dismissed reports of widespread fatalities, including claims of 160 child deaths, calling them vicious lies and urging the public to verify burial records to counter the narrative.
The remarks come amid a four-month doctors’ strike that has disrupted services at major facilities such as Kiambu Level 5 and Thika Level 5 hospitals. The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) attributes the strike to unpaid salaries, delayed promotions, and refusal to sign a non-victimization clause, reporting over 136 neonatal deaths and 20 maternal fatalities since May. County officials, however, challenge these figures, labeling them as inflated for political purposes, with Health Executive Elius Maina reporting 53 neonatal deaths from May to August, many unrelated to the strike.
Governor Wamatangi accused political rivals of orchestrating a smear campaign to discredit his administration, asserting that his government remains committed to funding medical staff and ensuring functional healthcare facilities. Six Kiambu MPs had previously called for national intervention under Article 186 of the Constitution, citing the county’s alleged mismanagement, but Wamatangi reaffirmed that his administration will not be intimidated and vowed to continue addressing health sector challenges.