KMPDU CONDEMNS CHIROMO CLINIC CLOSURE AFTER CEO NJOKI’S DEATH, CITES BIAS

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has criticised the closure of a Chiromo Group of Hospitals branch in Nairobi, terming the move by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) as abrupt and unfair to patients.

This follows the controversial death of Toto Touch Kenya CEO Susan Kamengere Njoki, who died while admitted at the Lavington-based psychiatric facility. An autopsy later revealed she died from manual strangulation.

KMPDU Secretary General Dr Davji Atellah questioned the regulatory body's consistency, pointing out that similar or worse incidents at other public hospitals, including Kenyatta National Hospital, had not triggered such decisive action.

“Where patients' lives were lost in suspicious circumstances elsewhere, there was no immediate closure or evacuation,” Dr Atellah stated, calling the council’s response emotional and poorly thought out. He argued that the unplanned evacuation disrupted care for innocent patients who were not part of the ongoing investigation.

KMPDC defended its decision, noting it was taken to allow for an unhindered inquiry into the incident and to implement any corrective measures. The council confirmed that the specific facility involved in the incident had been ordered to cease operations temporarily.

Prior to her death, Susan Njoki had published disturbing details of her forced admission. She claimed that two nurses and two men stormed her home and forcibly injected her with an unknown substance. She had previously battled depression but insisted she was stable and preparing for a job interview before the incident occurred.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death is ongoing.