136 Newborns Dead as Kiambu Doctor Strike Hits 127 Days

At least 136 newborn babies have died in Kiambu County hospitals since doctors went on strike four months ago, painting a grim picture of Kenya's collapsing healthcare system. Most of the deaths occurred at Kiambu Level 5 and Thika Level 5 hospitals, where maternity wards have been operating without doctors, forcing nurses and clinical officers to handle critical deliveries. "My baby died because there was no pediatrician to resuscitate him. I watched him struggle to breathe for 20 minutes. Nobody came," said Jane Wanjiru, 27, who lost her son at Thika Hospital last month. The strike, now in its 127th day, started after county officials failed to honor a collective bargaining agreement on salaries and working conditions. Attempts to resolve the standoff have stalled, with both sides accusing each other of bad faith. Governor Kimani Wamatangi's administration insists the county lacks funds, but critics point to recent purchases of luxury vehicles and foreign trips by county officials as proof that money is being misallocated. Meanwhile, mothers continue to give birth in understaffed, ill-equipped facilities. Medical experts warn the death toll could rise unless urgent action is taken. "These are preventable deaths," said Dr. Samuel Oroko of the Kenya Medical Practitioners Union. "The government has the money. They just don't care."