•Langat's body was discovered in the trenches outside the Margaret Kenyatta Mother and Baby Wing on Saturday morning
•KMPDU in a statement on Sunday called on the DCI to move with speed and establish the cause of his death
Image: FILE
The doctors' union has called for speedy investigations into the death of Laban Lang'at, a medical officer intern at Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital (PGH).
Langat's body was discovered in the trenches outside the Margaret Kenyatta Mother and Baby Wing on Saturday morning.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) in a statement on Sunday called on the DCI to move with speed and establish the cause of his death.
"We implore the relevant authorities to expedite the process, ensuring that justice is served swiftly," KMPDU SG Davji Atellah said.
Atellah noted the death of the young medic under mysterious circumstances underscores the pressing need for heightened security measures within health facilities.
"We demand that county governments and hospital management prioritise the safety of healthcare workers, particularly medical interns," Atellah said.
"It is imperative that hospitals adhere to KMPDC and PPB rules, including providing secure housing within hospital premises for medical interns."
Condoling with the family, Atellah termed Langat's untimely demise as a loss to the medical fraternity, adding that loss of a young doctor like Langat is a devastating blow to the country's healthcare system.
According to Atellah, Langat represented the future of the medical profession, and his tragic demise reverberates through the entire medical fraternity.
"The union will not tolerate any compromise in the security of our doctors and medical interns," he said.
The union is now calling on the relevant authorities to take swift action to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future.
It noted that the safety of healthcare workers is paramount in delivering quality patient care and maintaining the integrity of the country's healthcare system.
Atellah reiterated the union's commitment to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to unravel the circumstances surrounding Langat's death and to hold accountable anyone found culpable of foul play.
He said they will work tirelessly to ensure justice for their fallen colleague.
According to a statement issued by Nakuru County Executive Member for Health Services, Roselyn Mungai, the medic’s body was discovered in the trenches outside the maternity wing at about 7am.
She claimed that the body, which was later moved to the hospital morgue by the police, had no physical injuries, adding that his personal items were also intact.
Mungai said the deceased was identified as one of the medical officer interns who had been serving the hospital since August 2023.