The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Kitui Senator Enoch Kiio Wambua has sounded the alarm over what he describes as dire conditions at Kitui County Referral Hospital, following a nighttime visit to the facility that he says exposed serious gaps in healthcare service delivery.
In a statement shared on his Facebook page, Wambua detailed his firsthand observations after touring the hospital’s wards and corridors and speaking with patients and staff, describing the experience as deeply troubling.
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According to the senator, the Maternity Ward is severely overcrowded, with at least four mothers and their newborns forced to share a single bed. He further noted that the beds and bedding available at the referral facility are in poor condition and of substandard quality.
Wambua also raised concern over the Accident Ward, where he said numerous patients had been left unattended following admission. He cited additional challenges including chronic drug shortages, overcrowded wards, and insufficient medical staffing as major issues undermining service delivery at the facility.
The senator further alleged irregularities in the hospital’s recruitment process, claiming that although the Kitui County Public Service Board had advertised vacancies for medical personnel, it failed to release an official shortlist. He said he had been informed that candidates were instead being called for interviews secretly, without transparency.
Wambua insisted that the true state of healthcare in Kitui County should be judged by the experiences of patients and residents themselves, rather than by official assurances from county leadership. He said he did not expect the Governor or County Executive to publicly claim that the health sector was functioning well, given what he witnessed.
The senator was emphatic that his remarks were not politically motivated, acknowledging that some of the challenges facing the facility could be linked to shortcomings in national health policy. However, he stressed that since healthcare is a fully devolved function, the county government bears direct responsibility and must take urgent action.
Describing the situation as a crisis rather than a routine service gap, Wambua said the facility no longer reflects the standard of care that residents of Kitui County deserve, and called for immediate intervention to address the concerns he raised.
