Governor wants funding for health services increased

Laikipia, Kenya: Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu has asked the national government to increase funding for health services within counties.

Speaking to The Standard, Irungu said the many challenges facing the health sector, among them inadequate supply of drugs and medical equipment, are causing wananchi to suffer.

"I appeal for additional funding from the national government because even though the health sector has been devolved, the challenges surrounding it have also been devolved," he said.

The governor challenged the Kenya Medical Supply Agency (Kemsa) to help county governments end persistent drug shortage in hospitals.

Service provision

He said a steady supply of drugs and availability of essential equipment in health facilities would ensure that the health of Kenyans is taken care of, which will in turn boost production in all other sectors.

The governor said despite the myriad challenges facing counties, the national and county governments need to work together especially on the devolved functions.

"I call upon counties to have a sober engagement with the national government since this is the only way to have these challenges resolved. Budgetary allocations to county governments may not be adequate but whatever we get from the National Treasury must be prudently used and accounted for so that it can have a positive impact on the lives of our people," Irungu said.

He urged county leaders to use public funds at their disposal in programmes that will change residents' lives, saying their sole obligation is to alleviate the suffering of the people who mandated them to lead.

"Let us be guided by the principle of fiscal prudence. We need to be transparent in the way we utilise funds allocated to our counties and account for each and every penny. This way, we will be assured of better lives for our people," said the governor.

Meanwhile, Nyandarua MCAs have asked Governor Daniel Waithaka not to attend meetings of the recently formed Nyandarua County Development Board until a suit filed by the Council of Governors is determined.

On Monday a 130-member board, to be headed by Senator Muriuki Karue, was established by county leaders in accordance with the County Government Amendment Act signed by President Uhuru Kenyatta. The board includes all MPs, some leaders from the county assembly, the executive and the national government.

The MCAs, led by Wahome Kamoche (Rurie), urged Waithaka not to attend the board meetings until a case by the Council of Governors challenging the board's constitutionality is concluded.

"We cannot accept an illegitimate law to be bestowed on us and have the governor reduced to a simple secretary. We are the people who elected him as chief executive officer and we warn those who met on Monday that we are moving to court to block their activities," Kamoche said.

Stop meddling

Speaking at Gikumbo village in Rurie Ward during the official opening of a cattle dip constructed by the county government, the MCAs insisted that governors should be the counties CEOs while other leaders, the MPs, MCAs and senators, play an oversight role.

"The county and national government are the only two levels of government recognised by the Constitution hence the board has no constitutional basis to vet budgets and play other roles played by the assemblies," he said.

Kamoche said senators have a "habit of meddling in other people's affairs" and should stop doing so.