Several Ministry of Health officials and drivers are under investigation over alleged misuse of ambulance vehicles that were recently acquired by the county government.
A local human rights organisation has claimed that some drivers have been demanding money to transport patients in need of urgent care to hospital.
Baringo Human Rights Consortium Co-ordinator Kipruto Kimosop alleged that a driver attached to a health facility in Mochongoi recently demanded Sh8,000 to transport a patient to Kabarnet County Hospital.
The Baringo-based human rights organisation has petitioned the county government to take action over the misuse of ambulances attached to rural health facilities.
broken leg
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"The scandal was exposed at Kabarnet after the patient was referred to Annex Hospital in Nakuru and ferried using a different ambulance and was not asked for any payment," Mr Kimosop said.
After the patient's relatives made inquiries, they were informed that ambulance services were free across the county.
Maina Kiplenge, whose mother suffered a broken leg, said the driver demanded money claiming that the vehicle had no fuel.
"We later came to learn that it was not only us who had been conned. Others have paid between Sh2,000 to Sh3,000. About a month ago, another family lost a child because they could not raise the demanded amount," he claimed.
Baringo Chief Officer of Health Richard Koech said the services were not completely free. Patients interested in hiring the ambulances, he said, were required to part with Sh40 per every kilometre.
He said relatives asking to have their patients referred to hospitals outside their network would have to pay for the service.
"However, a driver asking for fuel money is illegal and we are following leads to get more information. We are going to deal with those found culpable firmly," said Mr Koech.
Local residents also alleged that the same vehicles are being used to ferry contraband goods like sandalwood and illicit brews at night and asked the Government to investigate and punish those responsible.
Some of them claimed to have encountered ambulances, complete with sirens, transporting maize at night.
Recently, two trucks belonging to regular and Administration Police were found transporting illegal sandalwood worth more than Sh40 million.
