The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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The government is set to release over Sh1.5 billion this week to finalize the construction of stalled hospitals in Uasin Gishu County.
The funding will go towards completing the Ziwa and Burnt Forest Level 5 hospitals, which were started during the tenure of former governor Jackson Mandago, now a senator. Additionally, the Turbo and Kesses county hospitals will also be completed.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, who visited the county on Friday and Saturday, assured that the required funds would be released as directed by President William Ruto.
“I will ensure the necessary funds are allocated to complete these hospitals on time,” Duale said.
He emphasized that the completion of these facilities would help ease the pressure on the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), which currently serves over 23 counties. “We want MTRH to remain a referral hospital and not handle cases that could be managed at lower-level facilities,” he added.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii had earlier requested the national government’s assistance in completing the stalled projects, citing his county’s insufficient resources to finish the hospitals on its own.
Duale also revealed that the hospitals in the region would receive dialysis, X-ray, and MRI machines to enhance healthcare services.
In other developments, the CS announced that he would refer cases of thousands of ghost workers employed under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
The ministry is conducting a vetting and verification exercise, which is expected to be completed by next week. Genuine workers will then be hired on permanent and pensionable terms.
“I have the funds to hire UHC staff, but we must finish the vetting process first,” Duale stated.
He warned that thousands of UHC workers were irregularly hired and had been receiving salaries illegally. These cases may be handled by the EACC, with those found guilty required to refund public money.
“The data shows there are thousands of ghost workers, and we will address this legally,” Duale said, adding that many people had been hired as nurses without proper qualifications and had been earning public funds unlawfully.
“If you’re not a qualified nurse and have been paid by the government all these years, be prepared to face the law and return the money,” he warned.
The CS also cautioned UHC workers against pressuring the government with protests, insisting the vetting process must be completed.
“Once the vetting is done next week, we will hire qualified nurses on permanent terms,” he confirmed.
Duale emphasized that his priority is to ensure that the healthcare system serves the needs of patients, not the interests of workers or other stakeholders.
“The patient is the boss in the healthcare system, not the workers, leaders, or hospitals. We must focus on the dignity of patients,” he concluded.
Duale made the remarks while flagging off drug supplies to hospitals and opening an MTC college at Burnt Forest in Uasin Gishu.
