County has pending bills amounting to Sh117 million

The county assembly has raised audit queries in the running of the county health department.

The assembly now plans to summon the chief officer in the department to appear before the Committee on General Oversight to respond to issues affecting the department.

Health Services Committee Chairman Ngumo Ngamau revealed that the department was only able to absorb Sh21 million out of the Sh110 million that had been appropriated for procurement of medical drugs and allied services.

As this happened, the House heard that health facilities in the county lacked essential drugs for various ailments including diabetes and high blood pressure.

Ngamau was responding to a statement sought by Majority Leader Edinald King’ori who wanted to see the list of contracts awarded for supply of goods and services in the department for the 2017/2018 financial year, extent of implementation of projects and the amount owed to contractors and suppliers.

King’ori further wanted to know the contractors and suppliers who were paid before the end of the last financial year and the list of pending bills that will be paid by the department of Finance and Economic Planning.

Among the leaders who expressed concerns over poor performance of the Health department is Kipipiri Ward MCA Paul Ngeche who cited a project at Kimathi dispensary in his ward which was intended to take six months at a cost of Sh2.5 million.

“The project is incomplete. The contractor is not on site but the project is listed in the pending bills, now claiming Sh3m,” said Mr Ngeche.

The report further indicated that Gathiriga dispensary in Githioro Ward which is under construction, had been supplied with drugs yet it is incomplete. Engineer hospital had also been allocated Sh22 million yet no work has been done.

The members further took issue with the Government’s failure to put up a mortuary even after Sh12.5 million had been allocated. The mortuary at JM Memorial Hospital holds 60 bodies yet its capacity is only for 10.

The department has pending bills amounting to Sh117 million.