County to spend another Sh100m on medicines

The County Government of Nakuru has allocated another Sh100million for purchase of drugs to be supplied to health facilities across the county.

Governor Kinuthia Mbugua said all public hospitals will now have enough drugs in their pharmacies.

He said the second consignment of drugs will be delivered to the hospitals immediately they receive it.

“We have already stocked health facilities with drugs worth Sh74million in the third quarter of this financial year and we are in the process of procuring more,” Mbugua said when he officiated the opening of Kimeswon Health Centre in Kipkoros in Kuresoi South constituency.

Teething problems

The governor, who was accompanied by Majority Leader in the National Assembly Aden Duale, Kericho Senator Charles Keter and nominated senator Liz Chelule, said his administration has the capacity to handle all functions devolved from the national government after the rocky first year of devolution.

He said his administration would work with the national government to ensure efficient delivery of services to the people of Nakuru County, saying the two levels of government must complement each other to achieve development.

The County’s Deputy Governor Joseph Ruto, who is also in charge of the Health docket, said they had partnered with the Kuresoi South Constituency Development Fund to upgrade the facility.

“The county has bought equipment and drugs worth Sh3million for the health centre that will serve the entire Kipkoros Ward and the neighboring wards,” he said.

Health PS Fred Sigor donated a motorcycle, a microscope and other drugs to the health facility.

Unnecessary wars

Sigor encouraged counties to partner with CDF committees and the ministry in improving health services.

Duale hailed the partnership between the county and the national governments, saying Nakuru County has demonstrated that the two levels of governments can function together for the sake of development.

“Governor Mbugua has demonstrated how easy it is for the two levels of government to function together and other governors should emulate him instead of wasting time fighting unnecessary wars,” he said.

Meanwhile, efforts to kick Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos have flopped after it emerged that there were sufficient grounds to warrant his impeachment.

Tolgos had been accused of incompetence and failing to fast-track implementation of development projects

But County Minority Leader Benson Kiptire, who led efforts to shoot down the Motion, said the “whole issue had died a natural death” after it emerged that the accusations were baseless.

Kiptire said allegations that the governor was incompetent could not be substantiated and are not provided as grounds for impeachment in the Constitution.

“Questions had been raised concerning his competency, but a governor cannot be impeachment on grounds of incompetence. The Constitution, however, allows impeachment if the governor fails to implement development projects, “Kiptire argued.

Kiptire, who is the Kapyego Ward Representative, called on his fellow MCAs to focus on development instead of championing division.

Speaking to The Standard, Kigen who moved the motion, rubbished reports that the Motion had been shelved, saying there were attempts to intimidate a section of MCAs. “We still believe that there are grounds to continue with the Motion, “Kigen said.

He could, however, say the exact number of MCAs supporting the Motion.

 “When we initially started, 14 MCAs out of 30 were in support of the impeachment. However, one of them pulled out. We have not held discussions of late and it is therefore difficult to tell how many of them are still supporting the Motion,” he added.