The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has condemned an incident of violence at Naivasha County Referral Hospital following unrest linked to protests over fuel price hikes.
The union said a rowdy crowd allegedly stormed the facility, disrupted medical services, and took away the body of a deceased patient during the chaos.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, KMPDU described the incident as a serious security breach that endangered healthcare workers and disrupted emergency 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.
The union said the hospital was turned into a scene of chaos while medical staff were attending to patients, creating a hostile environment in what should remain a sanctuary of healing.
Videos circulating online reportedly showed groups entering the hospital premises as protests over increased fuel prices escalated into wider unrest.
KMPDU said the disruption not only interfered with medical operations but also exposed doctors, nurses, and support staff to serious risk.
It reiterated that healthcare facilities must remain neutral zones protected from political or social unrest due to 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 also raised alarm over reports that a deceased patient’s body was removed from hospital custody during the chaos, saying the act violated medical protocols and compromised institutional integrity.
KMPDU further expressed concern over the safety of emergency services, noting that ambulances and medical teams had 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 also questioned the safety of healthcare workers during unrest, saying: “We ask a fundamental question: how are we meant to save lives when our own survival is constantly under threat within the workplace?”
KMPDU has called on both national and county governments to urgently deploy security personnel at Naivasha County Referral Hospital and other health facilities.
“The government must assure doctors and all healthcare providers of a peaceful and safe working environment,” the statement read.
