At the heart of Nairobi County lies Kibra, a densely populated and vibrant slum teeming with life. But beyond its bustling streets, a silent healthcare crisis unfolds in its public hospitals and clinics. For Kibra’s residents, accessing healthcare is more than a basic right—it’s a relentless battle against poverty, overcrowding, and a chronic shortage of essential medicines.
Margaret (not her real name), a mother from Kianda, recounted her experience at a local public hospital. She had rushed her daughter, who had injured her hand at school, to the hospital, expecting immediate treatment. Instead, she was instructed to purchase a bandage and other medical supplies from a nearby chemist—a frustrating ordeal, given that she didn’t have any money with her. “Essential supplies should be provided in government hospitals. It’s a basic right,” Margaret lamented. She added that most patients seeking care at these facilities are mothers bringing their children for checkups, immunizations, or antenatal care, underscoring the critical role public hospitals play in maternal and child health.
For 62-year-old Ong’ayo from Siranga, a visit to the hospital was equally challenging. Unable to afford private healthcare, she relied on public facilities but was handed only a prescription and told to purchase medicine from a chemist. “If I had money, I wouldn’t be here,” she protested, questioning why she couldn’t receive treatment at a government hospital. Determined, she threatened to stay at the governor’s office until she got the care she needed. Eventually, the facility provided her with medication.
Kibra’s public hospitals, like those in many of Nairobi’s informal settlements, are overwhelmed. For residents, basic healthcare often serves as the first line of defense against illnesses, but medication shortages are the norm. Mama Fenny, a 42-year-old mother of three, shared her frustration: “I brought my child to the clinic for a fever, but they didn’t have antibiotics. They told me to buy them at a chemist. Where will I get the money?” Her struggle mirrors that of many in Kibra, where healthcare access is a persistent challenge.
The situation is no better in neighboring Kawangware. Facilities such as Gatina Health Center, Riruta Health Centre, and Mutuini Hospital face similar challenges: long wait times, high patient volumes, and chronic shortages of medicine. Limited staffing and resources only exacerbate the problem, forcing patients to turn to private pharmacies, which many cannot afford.
Wanjiru, a mother of three, described her ordeal: “When my child fell sick, I rushed to Gatina Hospital. They didn’t have the medicine I needed and gave me a prescription to buy at a chemist.” Isaac, a boda boda rider, voiced his frustrations: “I’ve been to the hospital twice this month for my chronic condition, but the drugs are always out of stock. I end up spending more at private pharmacies.” For Atieno, a small-scale business owner, the challenges hit close to home. “My father has high blood pressure, but every visit to the clinic ends with us being told to come back or buy the medicine ourselves. It’s exhausting,” she said.
The shortage of medication in public hospitals goes beyond a healthcare crisis—it is a violation of human rights. Article 43 of Kenya’s Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to the highest attainable standard of health, including access to essential medicines. Yet, for residents of Kibra and similar communities, this right remains elusive.
Healthcare workers in these facilities are doing their best with limited resources. “We see up to 300 patients a day with just a handful of staff,” said Dr. Achieng, a doctor at Kibra Level 3 Hospital. Nurse Philomena described the challenges: “If we don’t have the right medicine, we improvise and manage symptoms with whatever is available, but it’s not enough.” This leaves many patients with prescriptions they cannot afford to fill.
Economic hardships compound the problem. Many residents, like 45-year-old Ali Abdi, work as casual laborers earning less than 300 Kenyan shillings a day. “We have to choose between food and medicine,” Ali explained. “We depend on public hospitals because they’re affordable, but even then, there’s no medicine.”
In the absence of adequate government support, NGOs and community-based organizations (CBOs) step in to fill the gap. Organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), and Amref Health Africa provide subsidized or free healthcare services, offering a lifeline to residents who would otherwise go untreated.
The healthcare crisis in Kibra reflects a broader systemic failure in Kenya’s public health infrastructure. The government’s inability to address overcrowding, resource shortages, and medicine scarcity leaves marginalized communities underserved. While doctors, nurses, and community organizations work tirelessly to bridge the gap, residents like Margaret, Ong’ayo, and Ali are left holding onto hope that one day, their constitutional right to healthcare will be fully realized.
