MP wants senior state officials treated in public hospitals

Kiambu County Woman Rep Gathoni Wamuchomba. [File, Standard]

An MP has proposed that all elected leaders and government officials should only be treated in local public hospitals whenever they fall sick.

In her submissions to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) over the weekend, Kiambu Woman Representative Gathoni Wamuchomba proposed that leaders and government officials should get medical cover limited to public hospitals.

Ms Wamuchomba said this was the only way to push leaders to improve facilities and services in public hospitals.

She said it was sad to see leaders and senior government officials travel abroad for world class treatment while tax payers are left to die in local public hospitals of similar ailments.

“Such a requirement  is the only way that will make leaders become serious in addressing the plight people who are currently suffering due to pathetic and deplorable conditions of many public hospitals,” she said.

Age limit

The MP also called for the lowering of the maximum age limit for Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) from the current age of 35 years to 28 so that more youths can benefit. AGPO is set aside for women, youth and persons with disabilities.

Wamuchomba further called for the creation of the Office of an Ombudsman in all the counties to assist in the delivery of justice.

She also rooted for the creation of office of an executive prime minister who will be head of government.

During his presentation, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria called for the scrapping of the woman rep and nominated ward rep positions.

Kuria told the BBI taskforce chaired by Senator Yusuf Hajji said the seats amounted to double representation as what they do can be done by elected MPs and ward reps.

“We have to deal with this issue of double representation. The nominated seats must be scrapped together with that of woman representative” he said.

The lawmaker also proposed the expansion of the executive to include a prime minister and two deputy prime-ministers, all of who, alongside the president and his deputy, should be elected.

“There should also be a seat for the leaders of the Opposition with a shadow cabinet fully paid by the exchequer” said Kuria.

He, however, cautioned against holding a referendum saying parliament has the capacity to carry out the proposed changes.

Many residents who gave their submissions to the taskforce said they are yet to see and feel the fruits of devolution.

They complained against what they termed as devolution of corruption to counties which they said was hampering development and service delivery.