County's Sh300m hospital facelift plan facing dispute

Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui (2nd L) and Naivasha MP Jane Kihara join other leaders in visiting Naivasha Sub-County hospital which has been elevated to a level five facility. The hospital is however facing an acute shortage of drugs and staff. [Photo: Standard]

A plan to expand the Naivasha Sub-County Hospital is brewing trouble between residents and the county government.

The Sh300 million plan could stall as the county administration tries to resolve the issues that the residents have raised.

The county administration has formed a technical committee to decide how the funds will be used.

This has angered the residents of Naivasha, who have claimed that they were ignored.

Last month while visiting geothermal projects in Olkaria, President Uhuru Kenyatta directed the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) to set aside the money for the upgrading of the hospital.

Residents have been angered by what they claimed was the county administration's failure to engage them, and have approached local leaders asking them to collect signatures.

Planned petition

The signatures are to be used to petition the county administration against its unilateral decision to form the committee.   

Former Nakuru County Assembly majority leader Stanley Karanja condemned the county's plans, which he said would be resisted by the residents.

Mr Karanja, who is the Naivasha East MCA, none of the elected leaders in Naivasha were consulted when the committee was formed.

“This committee does not have the blessings of the local leadership and the public was not consulted. We shall petition the governor on this,” said Karanja.

The sentiments were echoed by the chief executive officer of the Naivasha Professionals Association, Absolom Mukuusi.

In a statement to the press, Nakuru County Governor Lee Kinyanjui said KenGen would handle procurement and financing issues, while his office would be involved only in design and supervision.

“It is good to note that a technical team is made of architects, engineers, planners and quantity surveyors only,” Mr Kinyanjui said.