The Senate Committee on Health has made shocking exposures of misappropriation and neglect in the health sector in Machakos County from unpaid medics and dry taps in hospitals to poorly staffed hospitals.
During an inspection tour of Athi River Level 4 Hospital and Mwala Level 4 Hospital, senators were treated to tearful moments when some of the health workers wept, alleging that they had not been paid for six months.
“How do you pay health workers and work for six months without paying them?” Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda trembled in asking.
The members of the committee included that the delays had also affected morale and delivery of service severely, issuing a threat that the situation easily had the propensity to turn into a crisis if tackled urgently.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka said it was not acceptable for health professionals to work under such conditions.
“We must report to the governor to resolve this. You cannot receive quality services from an institution where people have not been paid for several months,” Onyonka said.
At Athi River Hospital, the senators were surprised to discover that the hospital operated without a constant water supply a basic need for any health facility.
Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu was concerned that patients would be exposed to infection risk due to the absence of water.
“It is regrettable to have a hospital where we do not have water. We need to take action quickly so that we do not endanger the lives of patients,” she stated.
Nominated Senator Mariam Omar said although the county government seemed to favor referral hospitals, other smaller hospitals were left to suffer.
“Too much is being focused on referral hospitals at the expense of county hospitals, which are being neglected. The county has to strike a balance,” she stated.
The senators said they would prepare a report and table it before Governor Wavinya Ndeti, urging her government to act fast and restore normalcy, pay health workers, and resupply hospitals.
“We can’t just sit and see health services in Machakos collapse,” said Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli. “The county government needs to be put in its place.”
It is against a backdrop of mounting concern in several counties over pending salaries and dilapidated hospital facilities, even as citizens remain dependent on public health units for treatment.
