The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has issued a severe seven-day strike notice to the Mombasa County Government, protesting the abrupt and allegedly unprocedural suspension of Coast General Hospital CEO Dr. Iqbal Khandwalla.

Healthcare operations across Kenya's coastal region are staring at a total paralysis. Medical professionals have vehemently condemned the Mombasa County government's decision to interdict the head of the region's largest referral facility, escalating a bitter standoff between health workers and political authorities.

This crisis matters because it threatens the lives of thousands of vulnerable patients who rely on the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital (CGTRH). Furthermore, it highlights the perilous intersection of medicine and politics in devolved county governments, where administrative scapegoating often masks deep-rooted systemic failures.

The Tragic Trigger and Political Backlash

The controversy stems from the tragic death of Ali Kibwana, a staff member attached to Mvita MP Mohamed Machele. His family alleged that the hospital critically delayed a life-saving brain surgery while demanding an upfront deposit of KSh 350,000. The ensuing public outcry prompted a rapid, politically charged response.

In a hastily convened online meeting held at 8:30 PM on a Saturday, the hospital board recommended the suspension of Dr. Iqbal Khandwalla. The county government swiftly executed the interdiction, citing deteriorating stakeholder relations and a decline in public confidence. Dr. Sood Mohamed was immediately appointed as the acting chief executive to oversee operations.

KMPDU Cries Foul Play

The doctors' union has aggressively pushed back, describing the suspension as legally hollow and procedurally defective. Addressing the press, KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah accused the county of blatant political interference, noting that Dr. Khandwalla was denied fundamental administrative rights.

• The CEO was not issued a mandatory show-cause letter before interdiction.
• The County Public Service Board, which holds disciplinary authority, was bypassed.
• KMPDU maintains the CEO is an administrator, not a clinical decision-maker.

Senior doctors at the facility strongly disputed the allegations of medical negligence. They clarified that the patient was admitted in critical condition and required specialized neurosurgical equipment that was temporarily unavailable due to supply constraints linked to unpaid county debts to suppliers. Dr. Atellah emphasized that Dr. Khandwalla does not sit on the waiver committee or personally authorize clinical admissions, rendering the charges against him "factually misplaced."

An Imminent Health Crisis

The KMPDU has issued a non-negotiable ultimatum: reinstate Dr. Khandwalla within seven days or face a comprehensive withdrawal of services beginning March 3. While emergency services will temporarily continue, all elective procedures have been suspended with immediate effect. The medics are also demanding the dissolution of the hospital board and an independent probe by the Kenya Medical Practitioners Council (KMPDC).

Mombasa County officials have warned that any disruption of essential services will attract severe disciplinary action, arguing that the interdiction is a standard administrative measure allowing for a fair hearing. However, as the clock ticks down, the residents of Mombasa find themselves caught in the crossfire of a bureaucratic war that threatens to collapse their primary healthcare lifeline.