Uasin Gishu Health Executive on the spot for mishandling Health Docket

Uasin Gishu County Health CEC Evelyn Rotich being grilled at the Uasin Gishu County Assembly.

Ward reps have opened the way for the impeachment of the county health executive, Evelyn Rotich.

The county assembly on Tuesday adopted a petition declaring the Rotich incompetent and unfit to hold public office, opening the way for her impeachment.

The petition was tabled by health committee chairman, Hosea Some.

Mismanagement claims

The ward reps accuse Ms Rotich of mismanaging of the health sector that is allocated more than Sh1 billion annually in the county budget.

“The county executive committee member has consolidated powers in the health department in her office and is micromanaging all departments in the sector. She has been moving staff without plausible reasons” Mr Some told the assembly.

He said Rotich failed to satisfactorily answer questions when she appeared before the committee and declined to respond to certain claims.

The health committee said it has established that Rotich lacked knowledge on areas under her mandate and could not be trusted to continue running the office.

“She could not authoritatively answer questions posed by the committee and kept requesting time to refresh her memory on issues in her department. She has no full grasp of functions of her office two years after assuming office,” Some told the assembly.

Ms Rotich’s troubles started earlier in May after the health department suspended operations of revolving fund pharmacies operated by a non-governmental organisation - Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (Ampath).

The fund worked with hospital pharmacies to offer crucial medicines at subsidised prices. Ending its operations left about 7,000 patients with chronic diseases without subsidised medicines.

Kiplombe ward rep, Ramadhan Ali called for impeachment of Rotich saying the health docket was critical and required a more competent manager.

Deputy Speaker Hosea Korir, who presided over the session, said any member was free to introduce an impeachment motion against the Rotich following the adoption of the health committee’s report.

Denied claims

The health executive has denied all the claims leveled against her, saying she provided satisfactory answers to all questions raised by the committee and for all accusations leveled against her.

“We have done a lot in the department. We spend Sh200 million to procure drugs and ensure that our health facilities are fully stocked every year. It is not true that the sector if facing problems,” said Ms Rotich.

She said she was prepared to give the health committee answers on whichever queries they had about the health sector in the county.