The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has raised serious concerns over the mysterious death of 26-year-old medical officer intern Dr Laban Langat, urging for a comprehensive investigation.
Dr Langat started his internship at Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital (PGH) in August 2023.
Laban Kiptoo Langat, 26, attached to the hospital’s Margaret Kenyatta Mother-Baby Maternity wing, was discovered by security guards in a trench outside the facility at about 7 am on Saturday, January 13.
In a statement released on Monday, KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Bhimji Atellah expressed deep sorrow over the loss, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Dr Langat’s death.
“The circumstances surrounding Dr Langat’s death are shrouded in mystery, and as KMPDU, we call for an immediate and thorough investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to establish the cause of his death. We implore the relevant authorities to expedite the process, ensuring that justice is served swiftly,” read the statement.
Offering condolences to the bereaved family, KMPDU also highlighted the urgent need for enhanced security measures within medical facilities.
“This unfortunate incident underscores the pressing need for heightened security measures within medical facilities. We demand that county governments and hospital management prioritise the safety of healthcare workers, particularly medical interns. It is imperative that hospitals adhere to KMPDC and PPB rules, including providing secure housing within hospital premises for medical interns,” said Dr Atellah.
The shocking revelation on Sunday by government pathologist Titus Ngulungu, indicated that Dr Langat died from manual strangulation.
His coworkers at the South Rift’s largest hospital indicate that Kiptoo had been on duty on the Friday preceding his demise.
According to a close friend of Kiptoo, they had a conversation on that Friday.
He updated her that he was attending to a patient at the maternity wing’s theater, and by 6 pm, he confirmed completion of his work.
Further revelations unveil that around 8 pm, Kiptoo reached out to the friend via WhatsApp, sharing plans to attend a rugby game at the Nakuru Athletic Club the following Saturday morning.
“We conversed until 11 pm on Saturday. Feeling exhausted, I eventually dozed off. Upon waking up around 4:45 am, I decided to respond to some of his last messages from the previous night. To my shock, there was no response. Concerned, I tried to reach out later to talk,” disclosed the friend, opting for anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
