Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa has issued an ultimatum to Governor Kimani Wamatangi over the ongoing healthcare crisis in the county.
In a statement on Wednesday, August 6, Thang’wa said Kiambu County is in its 70th day of a 'medical crisis', marked by neglect and failure of leadership.
"Today marks 70 days of medical crisis in Kiambu County – 70 days of preventable suffering, 70 days of administrative failure, and 70 days of a Governor who has abdicated his duty to the people of Kiambu,” he said.
Wamatangi is expected to appear before the Senate on Thursday, August 7, to push for Thika’s elevation to city status.
Thang’wa acknowledged that the idea is a step in the right direction, but warned that the healthcare crisis undermines the qualifications required for such a transition.
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"Tomorrow, Thursday, 7th August 2025, the Governor of Kiambu is scheduled to appear before the Senate to make a case for Thika Municipality's elevation to city status.
"While this is a progressive step – one I support in principle – the County Government of Kiambu risks sabotaging this opportunity due to the Governor's continued failure to resolve the ongoing health crisis," he continued.
Thang’wa invoked the Urban Areas and Cities Act which outlines minimum service delivery standards that must be met before city status can be granted.
"Let it be clear: City status is not a political reward – it is earned by fulfilling clear statutory requirements, including well-functioning healthcare systems, equipped hospitals, and operational ambulances. These are not optional. They are mandatory prerequisites under the First Schedule of the Urban Areas and Cities Act," he added.
Thang’wa went on to claim that hospitals across the county remain non-functional due to a sustained doctors’ strike that has lasted 70 days.
He added that the county is short of more than 300 doctors and warned that 13 major health facilities face closure due to their deteriorating state.
According to Thang'wa, among the facilities at risk are Thika, Kiambu and Catundu Level V hospitals, as well as ten Level IV hospitals located in Tigoni, Ruiru, Igegania, Kihara, Ruthigiti, Karuri, Cachororo, Githunguri, Wangige and Lari.
Thang’wa also raised alarm over the exit of medical interns from county hospitals, saying they are unwilling to serve in dangerous and unsupported working environments.
He further accused Wamatangi of defying a High Court order by ignoring the 2024 Return-to-Work Formula issued in May, which was intended to resolve the standoff between the county government and health workers.
"The Governor has failed both the medical professionals and the people of Kiambu. While I sympathize with the doctors over the unbearable workload and conditions, it is the patients who continue to bear the heaviest burden – suffering in under-resourced, barely functioning hospitals," he stated.
Thang’wa has now demanded that the Senate bar Wamatangi from discussing Thika’s city status until the healthcare crisis is resolved.
"The Senate should not permit the governor to proceed with discussions on Thika's city status without first addressing the collapse of healthcare in Kiambu County. The doctors' strike is an urgent and overriding matter," he further said.
Thang'wa also invited striking doctors to attend the Senate Committee on Devolution’s public sitting scheduled for Thursday at 10:00 AM, where the Governor is expected to appear.
"I formally invite all striking medical personnel to attend tomorrow's public Senate Committee sitting on Devolution, scheduled for 10:00 AM, to directly confront the Governor and present their demands," he said.
Thang’wa concluded by warning that if Thika’s elevation fails, responsibility will rest with Wamatangi alone.
"The Governor has had 70 days to act. His continued negligence threatens not only lives – but the development future of our county. A city without doctors? If we lose this opportunity to elevate Thika, the blame will rest solely with the Governor," he noted.
