Health Unions Condemn Police Brutality, Warn of Looming Health Crisis

By Bruno Aero

Kenya’s health unions have sounded the alarm over the rising toll of police brutality and the deployment of hired goons during recent public demonstrations, warning that the violence is creating a national health emergency.

In a strongly worded joint statement issued today, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), and the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) decried what they termed as “a state-sponsored assault” on peaceful protestors, stating that the violence is not only unconstitutional but is directly undermining the country’s healthcare system.

“What is unfolding on our streets is not just a violation of constitutional freedoms; it is a public health emergency,” read the statement.

According to the unions, hospitals across the country are experiencing a surge in casualties from protest-related injuries, overwhelming emergency departments and stretching already scarce resources. The impact, they say, is being felt across both public and private healthcare facilities, with ripple effects reaching patients seeking routine and critical care.

“Emergency units are flooded. Hospital beds are filled. Health workers are overworked. Essential services are delayed for other patients,” said Dr. Davji Bhimji Atellah, Secretary-General and CEO of KMPDU.

The unions expressed concern over the mental and physical toll on health workers, many of whom are already grappling with staff shortages, burnout, and limited medical supplies.

George Gibore, Secretary-General of KUCO, added that the use of force is "breaking the back of the healthcare system" and called on security agencies to uphold constitutional rights instead of using violence to quell dissent.

Seth Panyako, Secretary-General of KNUNM, emphasized that every injury from the streets echoes in hospital corridors, reducing access for patients in need and eroding public trust in institutions meant to serve and protect citizens.

The unions jointly demanded:

An immediate end to police brutality and the hiring of criminal elements to intimidate demonstrators,

Respect for the constitutional rights of all Kenyans, and

The restoration of dignity, peaceful expression, and protection of life.

They warned that unless the violence is stopped, the country risks further destabilizing its fragile healthcare infrastructure—potentially leading to loss of life not just from the streets, but within the very institutions meant to save lives.