- A paybill number has been established for Kenyans to donate funds to the team for drought response.
- A tender for consultancy services for the proposed upgrading of the hospital to Level 5 was also floated.
Image: STEPHEN ASTARIKO
A plan by the Wajir county government to put up an expensive wall around the county’s referral hospital has sparked outrage among residents and leaders from the region.
Governor Ahmed Abdullahi's administration has put up an advertisement calling for bidders to apply for the open tender.
But a group of leaders from Wajir on Sunday criticised county leadership over the decision to incur millions of shillings on the wall at a time of famine.
They termed the county leadership insensitive to the needs of the people and urged that the plan shelved the project, including its tendering, until famine is contained.
Led by Omar M Sheikh, a member of the Wajir Leaders Forum, the leaders said the county should postpone the idea of the perimeter wall, which is to be built around the Wajir County Referral Hospital.
The county, in the said advert, also invites tenders for consultancy services for the proposed upgrading of the hospital to Level 5, and installation of an off-grid solar backup system at the county headquarters.
The administration also plans to spend the money on repair works and improve the lighting system of street lights.
“We can't afford to keep mum at this time given the region is among those badly affected by famine. This is because of a lack of planning from the leadership,” Omar said.
“At a time of famine and drought which is ravaging all parts of the county we are appalled to learn that the governor and his team have now advertised tenders amounting to nearly Sh900 million for development.”
They condemned the plans and urged the county administration to cancel the tenders and reallocate the funds to the famine relief kitty.
“This is not a priority by the administration for now. As much as those in power there think it is the right thing to do now, we feel it is unfortunate and uncalled for.”
“Our people are dying of famine and drought, which needs immediate and unwavering support and attention from the local administration,” they said in a statement.
They also thanked the National government, international governments, agencies as well as many Kenyans who sacrificed and made donations.
About 4.3 million drought-affected Kenyans are from 23 ASAL counties out of an estimated 6.4 million people projected to require humanitarian assistance across the country.
A National Steering Committee on Drought Response has been established and will, among other things, mobilise resources to augment the government’s drought response programme.
A paybill number has been established for Kenyans to donate funds to the team towards drought response.
The government reported that it has mobilised about Sh57.8 billion towards addressing the ongoing drought that has affected several counties across the country.
According to the Wajir leaders, efforts to address famine and drought should be a priority in their area too.