Embu MCAs have summoned the treasury department over non-remittance of medics statutory deductions, attributed to the ongoing strike.
The MCAs have also allocated Sh40 million more to Embu Level 5 hospital after the striking health workers said the hospital is in dire need of more funds.
Makima MCA Philip Nzangi, who is also the chairman public accounts committee, said that the county assembly will allocate Sh40 million more during the passing of this year's supplementary budget to help in purchasing of medicine, food and other essentials in the facility.
He said no portion of that money is supposed to cater for salaries as the medics have not complained about salaries which stipulates the parties are in good terms.
He further explained that county assembly is in charge of budgeting while the treasury and county executive are the ones in charge of medics salaries.
Nzangi said that the treasury and county executive should explain why the health workers statutory deductions are not it the intended institutions.
"County assembly doesn't deal with net salaries but gross salaries and therefore the issue on deductions of particular workers is a matter that the county should be able to explain. How they use the money after deductions God knows. We are on it and we are investigating," he said.
Nzangi also criticised those in charge of the said vice and termed it immoral and inhumane.
Health committee chairman Muturi Mwombo, said the committee has done much on ensuring these strikes end and they are ready to contribute more to stabilise the docket.
"We are ready to allocate more funds if the governor requests," he said.
Last Tuesday, demonstrating medics slammed the MCAs for slashing the Embu Level 5 teaching and referral hospital budget from Sh234 million in the last financial year to Sh84 million in the 2021-22 financial year.
The medics also cried foul of non-remittance statutory deductions to the intended institutions.
They also said that patients in Embu level 5 hospital are left to survive on strong tea as the facility lacks enough money to procure foodstuffs thus endangering the patients lives.
This comes as the Embu medics strike enters its third week.
Led by the county assembly speaker Josiah Thiriku the MCAs gave a three week ultimatum to the treasury to provide an update of what has been happening on the medics statutory deductions.
"We are going to dig deep to understand what has been happening to these deductions," Thiriku said.
The speaker distanced the assembly from the alleged vice and said the house was not involved in approving any different use of money meant for health workers.
"We have already summoned some of the treasury department officers. We demand to know where was this money spent, how much do the health staffs owe these statutory institutions and who approved the variation," he added.
He also said that the assembly has been allocating 51 per cent of the budget to the health docket each financial year adding that the challenges facing the docket remain to be a mountain they have not found the route to the top.
However, the MCAs pleaded with the medics to resume to work as they continue working on their grievances.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)