By Martha Okoth | February 24, 2026
Mombasa, Kenya — A new confrontation is emerging between the County Government of Mombasa and the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) following the interdiction of the Chief Executive Officer of Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, Dr. Iqbal Khandwalla.
In a sharply worded statement, KMPDU accused the county administration of unfairly targeting the hospital’s CEO over what it described as long-standing systemic challenges at the facility. The union termed the interdiction an act of “administrative high-handedness,” arguing that it was carried out without adherence to established procedures.
According to the union, Dr. Khandwalla was interdicted without being issued a Show Cause Letter or granted an opportunity to respond to the allegations leveled against him. KMPDU maintained that these steps are essential safeguards in public service management and their omission amounts to a violation of due process.
While the county government has reportedly defended the decision as being taken in the “public interest,” the union dismissed the justification, claiming the move reflects political interference rather than genuine accountability. KMPDU further described Dr. Khandwalla as a respected medical professional whose reputation and career risk being damaged by what it labeled a flawed administrative process.
“This action represents a complete disregard for due process and an assault on professional integrity,” the union said, warning that failure to reverse or address the matter within seven days could lead to industrial action.
The threat of a strike has sparked concern over possible disruption of services at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, the region’s largest public referral facility serving thousands of patients from Mombasa and neighboring counties.
By the time of publication, efforts to obtain an official response from the County Government of Mombasa were still ongoing.
The dispute adds to a broader pattern of tension between healthcare workers and county governments across Kenya, where governance issues, resource constraints, and alleged political interference in public health institutions have repeatedly triggered labor unrest.
As the seven-day ultimatum counts down, patients, healthcare workers, and stakeholders remain anxious over the future of the hospital’s leadership and the potential impact on service delivery.
