Malindi Community Human Rights Centre

They chose their Country. Their leaders abandoned them.
They stepped forward armed not with weapons, but with courage, conviction, and hope for a better Kenya. They believed that their voices mattered. They believed that their future was worth fighting for. For many of them, that courage cost them their lives.
Today, we remember the young patriots who were killed during the Finance Bill 2024 protests. We remember their dreams, their sacrifices, and the families they left behind. We remember the tears that continue to flow and the questions that remain unanswered.
As a nation, we must never allow their memories to fade. We must never normalize the loss of young lives in the pursuit of justice, accountability, and good governance.
We still remember. We will never forget. And the struggle for justice, dignity, and accountability continues.
May their souls rest in eternal peace, and may their sacrifice inspire us to build the Kenya they dreamed of.

VOCAL Africa IJM Kenya Sabaki Kenya U.S. Embassy Nairobi Pwani Social Justice Centre - Working Group

On 14th November 2025, Kilifi County Referral Hospital was issued a licence by the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council to operate as a Level 5 Public Hospital, a recognition that raised hope among thousands of residents across Kilifi County. The licence, however, is set to expire in December 2026, leaving only a few months before its validity lapses.
For the people of Kilifi, this licence was not merely a regulatory document, it was a promise of improved healthcare services, increased specialist care, better medical equipment, enhanced staffing, and reduced referrals to hospitals outside the county. It represented hope for expectant mothers, patients battling chronic illnesses, accident victims, children in need of specialized care, and families who have long struggled to access quality healthcare close to home.
Yet, as the expiry date draws nearer, many residents are asking difficult questions. What tangible changes have been made to justify the Level 5 status? Have critical gaps in staffing, infrastructure, equipment, and service delivery been addressed? Has the county government invested enough to ensure that this designation translates into better healthcare outcomes for the people? A licence alone does not save lives; the real measure of success lies in the quality of services experienced by ordinary wananchi.
The people of Kilifi deserve answers. They deserve a clear roadmap on how the county government intends to sustain and strengthen the hospital's Level 5 status before the licence expires. Healthcare is not a privilege, it is a constitutional right. As citizens, civil society organizations, healthcare workers, and leaders, we must demand accountability and action to ensure that the hopes attached to this licence do not expire alongside the certificate itself. A Licence Without Action Is a Promise Unfulfilled
What changes have you witnessed at Kilifi County Referral Hospital since it was granted Level 5 status? What should be prioritized before the licence expires in December 2026?



Kilifi County Government Gideon Maitha Mung'aro VOCAL Africa IJM Kenya Action for Empowerment Kilifi Department of Health and Sanitation Services