Saba Saba protests: Medics threaten to withdraw services after Kitengela Hospital attack

Clinical officers and medical laboratory officers under the Health Union Caucus are threatening to withdraw their services nationwide, citing growing safety concerns during protests.

This follows horrifying scenes at the Kitengela Sub-County Hospital on Monday, where a rowdy mob stormed the facility, harassed medics, and left behind a trail of destruction.

The Health Union Caucus is now demanding round-the-clock protection of all healthcare facilities by armed police.

Ironically, the first person to break a window with his fist suffered deep cuts and was given first aid inside the same facility he helped vandalise.

“My members, who are laboratory officers, were crossmatching blood for him because he had bled so much and needed a transfusion. While they were doing that, the goons attacked the lab first — there’s a broken window there," said KMLO Chair Nicholas Odipo.

KUCO Chair Peterson Wachira added, “It is detestable and very unfortunate that any Kenyan would want to harm the very people they will run to when their lives are in danger.”

The rowdy youth, who had accompanied a victim of the Saba Saba protests, forced their way into the facility and turned violent, ransacking the facility.

They harassed health workers and patients, endangering the lives of the most vulnerable, including children and pregnant women.

The Health Union Caucus is now demanding answers as to why hospitals across the country remain exposed.

“The healthcare workers took cover. Some had to masquerade as patients, putting on patients' gowns just so they wouldn’t be identified as staff," Tatio Saningo, a Clinician, said.

Wachira added, "We will be withdrawing our health workers from those facilities until their safety is guaranteed.”

KUCO Secretary General George Gibore, on his part, said: “The government must take action to provide security in all health facilities. We are neutral. We are not pro-anyone. We offer services to everyone — including the police. We don’t choose who to treat.”

The union has also condemned police barricades which they say restricted access to critical health services in various parts of the country during the protests.