136 Babies Die, Maraga Blasts Government
Former Chief Justice David Maraga has voiced his concerns about the government in light of the tragic loss of 136 newborns at public hospitals in Kiambu County during the ongoing doctors’ strike.
In a statement released on Friday, October 3, Maraga held both the Kiambu County leadership and the national government accountable for the heartbreaking deaths of these infants.
“When the 2010 Constitution was enacted, it promised dignity, the right to life, and the highest attainable standard of health for every citizen. Yet, what we are witnessing today is a healthcare system that is choked with desperate patients and mourning parents who are met with silence, bureaucracy, and collapsed services.
“This is not just a failure of Kiambu County leadership; it is a regime failure, right from the national level,” said Maraga.
The former Chief Justice didn’t hold back in his criticism of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). He described it as an act of impunity, pointing out that while deductions are taken from citizens’ paychecks, they are often treated as if they don’t matter when they actually need healthcare services.
“Instead of saving lives, SHA has become another layer of inefficiency and political talk, detached from the suffering on the ground and deaf to the people’s cries. We are angry because a child dying daily as a result of political failure is unacceptable,” he stated.
Further, Maraga accused the current government of failing to guarantee the right to life to Kenyans.
“It’s time for a reset to the politics of compassion demanded by our Constitution when it promises a right to inherent dignity and to universal healthcare for all Kenyans,” Maraga added.
Doctors in Kiambu County have been on strike for the past four months, demanding payment for overdue salaries and better working conditions.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has claimed that 136 newborns have tragically died in public hospitals throughout Kiambu during this period due to a lack of medical staff.
On the other hand, Kiambu’s Health Chief Officer, Patrick Nyagah, has pushed back against the KMPDU’s claims, stating that the county has not seen 136 infant deaths in recent months.
“Beyond any doubt, we have not had 136 babies dying in Kiambu county in recent months,” Nyagah said on Thursday.
136 Babies Die, Maraga Blasts Government
