Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda wants the Senate Health Committee to probe the current staffing level at the Ahero subcounty hospital for quality healthcare provision.
Besides staffing, Ojienda during a request for a statement at the Senate asked the committee to establish the measures being taken to ensure the hospital has adequate personnel, medical supplies and medication.
He told the committee to shed light on reports of documented incidents of bullying of patients and employees at the facility and state the steps being taken to address the issue.
Ojienda called on the committee to find out the average wait times for emergency procedures, such as caesarean sections, and steps taken to ensure timely access to the procedures to improve the healthcare services to expectant mothers.
The health committee, he said, should also provide an overview of the current state of the infrastructure at the hospital and equipment.
"A clear roadmap for the renovation and modernisation of the facility should be well indicated for the betterment of the people of Kisumu through efficient and quality service delivery," Ojienda said.
The senator further sought answers over the impending strike by doctors in public health facilities in Kisumu over salary delays and failure to remit statutory deductions.
"Apprise the Senate on the reasons for the two months' salary in payment of doctors and the non-remittance of statutory deductions," Ojienda said.
The Senate committee should also explain on the status of the negotiations between the county government and the doctors union to amicably resolve the salary issues.
He wants the committee to also indicate the budgetary allocation to the health sector in Kisumu in 2021 and 2022, and 2022-2023, showing how funds have been utilised.
Ojienda further asked the county government to state available palms to support unpaid doctors and healthcare workers to prevent future strikes, which risk paralysing services to residents.
He also wants the Senate Labour and Welfare Committee to investigate the claims of irregular and unprocedural recruitment in Kisumu by the county public service board.
"The committee should provide a list of all the applicants who applied for the positions in question, stating their qualifications and experience," Ojienda said.
He asked the committee to state the criteria used to shortlist the candidates who were invited for interviews and disclose the process within which the shortlisting was undertaken.
Apart from criteria, the committee should explain whether any members of the board were involved in the shortlisting process and their role
"The committee needs to shed light on allegations that some board members forced their candidates into the system while other candidates paid money to secure the positions," Ojienda said.
He said the committee should state measures available, disclose, and prevent conflicts of interest among the board members during the recruitment process.
The senator called on the committee to disclose the mechanism available to ensure that the recruitment process in the county is undertaken in a transparent, fair and merit-based manner.