Political tension is brewing in Kiambu County as a section of Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) have threatened to impeach Governor Kimani Wamatangi over what they describe as a total breakdown in the county’s health system.
The ward representatives accuse the governor of failing to resolve a bitter dispute between the county executive and striking medics, a crisis that has crippled essential services and left thousands of residents without access to medical care. They are now demanding that the governor act immediately to restore normalcy or face impeachment proceedings in the assembly.
Highlights
- Kiambu MCAs accuse Governor Wamatangi of neglecting hospitals and health workers.
- Public hospitals across the county reportedly face severe drug shortages and staff absenteeism.
- Ward reps demand immediate truce between medics and the county executive.
- Threat of impeachment looms if the crisis remains unresolved.
- Residents voice outrage over deteriorating health services.
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The usually calm chambers of the Kiambu County Assembly turned into a battlefield of words as ward representatives voiced their anger over what they called the governor’s “unacceptable silence” in the face of a worsening health crisis.
Several MCAs, cutting across political lines, accused Governor Kimani Wamatangi of mismanagement, arrogance, and lack of consultation in handling the county’s affairs. They said the ongoing standoff between the county government and health workers has reached alarming levels, with major hospitals paralyzed and residents forced to seek treatment in neighbouring counties.
“We have reached the end of our patience,” one MCA declared. “Our people are dying, dispensaries are closed, and the governor is pretending all is well. If he cannot lead, then we will lead without him.”
The lawmakers claimed that repeated attempts to reach the county executive for dialogue had failed, leaving the assembly with little choice but to consider constitutional action against the governor.
Across Kiambu County, the once-busy hospitals have turned into shells of inactivity. At Kiambu Level 5 Hospital, patients wait for hours only to be told that there are no doctors on duty or no medicines available.
In Thika, Ruiru, and Kikuyu, health workers have either joined a go-slow or completely downed their tools in protest against delayed salaries, lack of medical supplies, and poor working conditions. Ambulance services have stalled due to lack of fuel, while laboratory services remain suspended.
Residents have been left to fend for themselves, with many resorting to private clinics or pharmacies they can barely afford.
“I took my child to the hospital, but there were no nurses or medicine. I had to go to a private facility and spend what I didn’t have,” lamented a resident from Ruiru.
The Kiambu Medical Workers Union has reportedly accused the county of ignoring their grievances, while the assembly says the governor’s office has not provided a clear plan to address the crisis.
The MCAs have now called for an immediate meeting between the governor, the health unions, and the county assembly to chart a way forward. They say the health of residents cannot be used as a political bargaining chip.
“This is not about politics or sideshows. We are speaking on behalf of the people who elected us. The governor must act now or we will invoke Article 181 of the Constitution and begin the impeachment process,” said one MCA from Limuru.
They argue that the health crisis is a symptom of deeper administrative problems within the county government, including poor financial management, corruption in procurement, and political isolation of senior officials.
Some members claimed that the county health department has not conducted a comprehensive audit of hospitals for over a year, making it difficult to account for funds allocated to medical supplies and infrastructure.
Governor Kimani Wamatangi, who came to power on the promise of reforming county systems and ending wasteful spending, now faces his most serious political test yet.
Although he has maintained that his administration is committed to improving service delivery, the mounting criticism from MCAs suggests a growing rift between the executive and the assembly.
Several ward representatives say they have been kept in the dark about budget implementation, accusing the governor of running the county “like a private business.”
“We don’t know how health funds are being spent. We have facilities without medicine, yet budgets were approved months ago. The governor owes this county an explanation,” said an MCA from Githunguri.
Observers believe the tension could escalate into a full-blown political showdown if mediation efforts fail in the coming days.
Beyond the politics, the biggest victims of the standoff are ordinary residents who rely on county health facilities for essential services.
In rural areas like Gatundu North and Lari, clinics have been closed for weeks. Expectant mothers are delivering at home without professional care, while the elderly and chronically ill have been left unattended.
“People are dying silently. Even getting a painkiller in some hospitals has become impossible,” said a resident from Kikuyu.
The situation has also raised concerns among civil society groups, who argue that the right to healthcare enshrined in Kenya’s Constitution is being violated due to administrative failures.
They have urged the assembly and the governor to find common ground, warning that continued political infighting could erode public trust in devolution.
In a united statement, the MCAs urged both the executive and medical workers to lay down their egos and prioritize citizens’ welfare.
They proposed forming a joint health committee composed of representatives from the assembly, county government, and unions to track progress and monitor spending within the department.
The leaders further demanded an immediate audit of the health budget to identify how resources have been utilized since the financial year began.
“We cannot keep throwing money at a broken system. We need transparency and accountability in how public health is managed,” one MCA said.
They warned that the impeachment process would move forward if no tangible action is taken within a specified timeline.
As political temperatures rise, Kiambu residents have begun organizing community petitions demanding immediate restoration of hospital services. Churches, youth groups, and local associations have all voiced support for the MCAs’ demands, saying the situation has gone beyond politics.
Street protests have been reported in some towns, with residents carrying placards calling for “action, not excuses.”
“Our people are suffering. The governor must put the people before his pride,” one demonstrator shouted outside Kiambu County offices.
The growing public pressure adds another layer of urgency to an already volatile political climate, with analysts warning that the crisis could define Governor Wamatangi’s tenure.
Whether the impeachment threat materializes or not, one thing is clear the health crisis in Kiambu has exposed deep cracks in county leadership.
The next few weeks will likely determine whether Governor Wamatangi can restore confidence, reconcile with the assembly, and rebuild the health system, or whether his administration will collapse under the weight of public outrage and political dissent.
For now, MCAs remain adamant that unless swift and genuine reforms are initiated, they will invoke their constitutional powers to remove the governor from office.
“We are ready to defend the people of Kiambu,” one MCA concluded. “Our loyalty is to the sick mother in Gatundu, the child in Thika, and the patient lying unattended in Kikuyu. That is who we serve.”
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The Kiambu health crisis is more than a leadership test it’s a question of compassion and responsibility. In the words of one MCA, “Politics can wait, but lives cannot.”
