Kajiado Health CEC Alex Kilowua has broken the silence over the reforms and transfers in his health department, saying they were justified.
Speaking to the Star on phone from Mombasa county on Tuesday, Kilowua said he is acting on issues that had led to failed service delivery.
“After I was appointed to the health department as the CEC, I visited all the hospitals in the county and discovered all was not well,” Kilowua said.
He said that on November 7, he visited Loitokitok Level 5 subcounty hospital and several issues emerged.
“The hospital medical superintended was absent, the sanitation and the general hygiene were wanting and visiting relatives were being hosted on patients’ beds against infection prevention and control measures,” he said.
The Health CEC said what was happening at Loitokitok hospital was putting visitors at the hospital at risk of infections.
Kilowua claimed outside the hospital, there is a huge chemist shop allegedly owned by one of the pharmacists working in the hospital pharmacy, thus creating a conflict of interest.
He said there was a public outcry about increased patient referrals to Tanzania, Machakos and Makueni counties for services that should be rendered within the county facilities.
The county health minister claimed that there is a low revenue collection at the Loitokitok hospital despite the facility being a monopoly Level 4 hospital in the subcounty.
“It is against this background that I instructed my chief officer to effect the transfer of various medical officers,” Kilowua said.
On October 13, 2022, some 50 medical staff members were transferred to different health facilities across the county.
On October 23, a total of 13 members of the county health management team (CHMT) were also transferred.
Again on November 23, 40 staff were transferred, including 30 senior medical doctors.
Kajiado Senator Samuel Seki said he wants the transfer of health personnel done professionally.
“While I have nothing against Governor Joseph ole Lenku, it is disconcerting when staff transfers appear to be done whimsically or politically to punish opponents rather than on a professional needs assessment basis,” Seki said.