Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has singled out five officials in the management of Kerugoya Referral Hospital, accusing them of being used by her political enemies to paralyse operations in hospitals and portray her government as inefficient.
The former devolution CS has vowed not to take the matter lightly, installing a taskforce to investigate the suspected officials.
Speaking to the press after touring the hospital, Ms Waiguru claimed that politicians eyeing her seat in 2022 were using the officials to mess up the sector.
“Investigations by the taskforce which I had formed has revealed sabotage and we shall deal ruthlessly with those responsible,” she said.
The chaos began when the governor sacked 346 casual workers at the hospital, claiming that the facility was over-staffed.
This is the current status of Kerugoya hospital as at 12pm today. However, you will agree with me that 346 casuals in addition to 300 medical staff, 50 data entry staff and other support staff is over staffing for a 200 bed capacity hospital.#KirinyagaRising pic.twitter.com/iKG41bmgL6
— Anne Waiguru (@AnneWaiguru) May 12, 2019
This was followed by a threat by doctors to go on strike.
The doctors and nurses complain of contracting diseases caused by working in the deplorable, unhygienic environment, that would have otherwise been avoided had the casual workers been present.
The medics claim that two of them have already contracted Hepatitis B.
“It is true that two nurses are suffering from hepatitis B and two others are have running stomachs and are undergoing treatment,” said the Kirinyaga Kenya National Union of Clinical Officers Chairman Paul Mwangi.
Waiguru has blamed senior medical officials for the current crisis facing the health sector and warned that they will face disciplinary action.