KMPDU condemns Naivasha Hospital raid during fuel protests

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has condemned an incident of violence at Naivasha County Referral Hospital.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the union described the incident as a serious security breach that endangered healthcare workers and compromised the delivery of emergency medical care.

“It is uncalled for that healthcare facilities, the very places the public runs to for emergency medical care during civil unrest, should be targeted with violence,” the union stated.

According to KMPDU, the hospital was turned into a scene of chaos at a time when medical staff were attending to patients, creating a hostile environment in what is expected to remain a sanctuary of healing.

Videos circulating online reportedly show groups of protesters entering the hospital premises as demonstrations over increased fuel prices escalated into wider unrest.

The protests, which began on Monday, have been marked by public anger over the rising cost of fuel and its impact on transport and essential goods.

KMPDU expressed concern that the disruption at Naivasha hospital not only interfered with medical operations but also exposed doctors, nurses, and support staff to significant risk.

The union emphasised that healthcare facilities must remain neutral zones, protected from political or social unrest, given their critical role in saving lives.

“When chaos erupts, our dedicated medical personnel stand on the frontline to preserve human life. Subjecting healthcare workers to an environment of fear directly threatens the continuity of critical care,” the statement added.

The union was particularly alarmed by reports that a deceased patient’s body was taken from hospital custody during the chaos, saying such actions violate established medical protocols and compromise institutional integrity.

KMPDU also raised concerns over the safety of emergency services, noting that ambulances and medical teams have reportedly faced obstruction during the protests.

“An ambulance in transit carries a life-or-death situation; interfering with it is a direct attack on human life,” the union said, urging safe passage for all emergency vehicles.

“We ask that all demonstrating members of the public grant unconditional, safe passage to all ambulances and medical teams trying to reach patients in distress,” it added.

The union further issued a stark warning about the safety of healthcare workers inside facilities during unrest.

“We ask a fundamental question: how are we meant to save lives when our own survival is constantly under threat within the workplace?” KMPDU posed.

KMPDU has now called on both the national and county governments to urgently deploy adequate security personnel at Naivasha County Referral Hospital and other health facilities across the country.

“The government must assure doctors and all healthcare providers of a peaceful and safe working environment,” the statement read.