While the deaths could directly be attributed to the nurses' strike, we acknowledge that the strike had complicated services in the health sector. Patients are losing their lives as nobody is ready to help them. This came as reports from various regions of the country indicated that patients are dying.
In Naivasha, three patients are reported to have died in the Sub-County hospital in the last three days. Eight other patients are said to have died in the Coast General Hospital.
In Kakamega County, a doctor became a victim of the ongoing strike after losing his eight month old baby at the facility.
Dr. Wilson Ongalo experienced the effect when his baby, Sahim Ongalo, died at the county referral hospital.
He said that the baby who had had malaria was first taken to Nala hospital after developing breathing difficulties, but since there was no Oxygen there, he took the child to the referral hospital. However, he found the store locked.
There was no one to open the store as all the nurses were on strike.
"I am a doctor and I have been saving lives. However, today I was unable to save my own child as there was no oxygen, no drugs, no syringes and gloves. I helplessly watched my child die," he lamented.
Mr. John Akoto, the referral hospital's medical superintendent said that two other patients also died there since there was no nurse to attend to them.
He said that they were only offering outpatient services as they awaited the outcome of negotiations between the Council of Governors, Kenya National Union of Nurses and the Sarah Serem-led Salaries and Remuneration Commision.