Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General, Davji Atellah, has strongly criticized the decision to shut down Chiromo Hospital’s branch following the death of Susan Njoki, CEO of Toto Touch.
In a statement shared on his official X account, Atellah condemned the move by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Council (KMPDC), calling it hasty and harmful to the patients who were abruptly ordered out of the facility.
“The closure is not only impulsive but also unfair to the patients who were depending on care from that facility. Where are they supposed to go?” he posed.
Atellah questioned why similar action wasn’t taken in past incidents at major public hospitals. Referring specifically to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), he recalled previous cases of murder and negligence, including incidents where patients were attacked within the facility.
“When KNH faced horrifying cases throats slit, lives lost we didn’t witness forced evacuations or immediate shutdowns,” he said. “What we’re seeing now is selective enforcement that appears emotionally driven rather than grounded in fair and consistent regulation.”
KMPDC’s closure order came shortly after the release of an autopsy report which indicated that Njoki had died from manual strangulation while under medical care at Chiromo Hospital, sparking national outrage.
In response, KMPDC stated:
“The Council has launched a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of the late Susan Kamengere Njoki while under the care of Chiromo Group of Hospitals.”
Still, Atellah insists that while accountability is important, regulatory responses must be measured, consistent, and considerate of patients’ well-being rather than reactions to public pressure.
