Kiambu MPs Urge National Government to Take Over Healthcare Services
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| Kiambu County MPs address the press in Nairobi, urging the National Government to take over the management of healthcare services, citing persistent challenges under county administration. |
Speaking during a joint press briefing, the legislators expressed deep concern over the state of hospitals across the county, citing frequent drug shortages, poor working conditions for medical staff, and lack of essential equipment. They said the county government had failed to meet the healthcare needs of its growing population, and called on President William Ruto’s administration to step in and provide lasting solutions.
“Healthcare is a basic right. Our people are struggling in hospitals without drugs, equipment, and even doctors. It is time the National Government takes over because counties have failed to deliver,”one of the MPs remarked.
The leaders also highlighted the frequent standoffs between county administrations and striking health workers, which have repeatedly paralyzed services and left patients stranded. According to them, centralizing healthcare under the National Government would ensure efficiency, accountability, and consistency in service delivery across the country.
They further noted that Kiambu, being one of the most populous counties in Kenya, faces particularly high demand for healthcare. Despite this, local health facilities remain overstretched, underfunded, and unable to cope with the growing pressure from patients.
The MPs insisted that while devolution was designed to bring services closer to the people, the management of healthcare has proven too critical to be left in a constant state of crisis. They argued that reverting healthcare to the National Government would not undermine devolution but would instead safeguard the lives and wellbeing of millions of Kenyans.
Their appeal comes at a time when national conversations on the future of devolved functions are intensifying. Several leaders across the country have begun questioning whether certain critical services, such as healthcare, should remain devolved or be restructured to improve efficiency.
The plea by the Kiambu MPs is expected to spark fresh debate and could shape policy discussions on the long-term management of Kenya’s healthcare system, which remains a cornerstone of the government’s social development agenda.
Reporting by: Babz Abdul Raheem N.
Date: October 03, 2025
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