Amidst a shift in county leadership from Emeritus Wycliffe Oparanya to FCPA Fernandes Barasa, hopes soared, fuelled by Oparanya’s impressive developmental strides.
However, the recent state of affairs in the health sector casts a worrisome shadow.
Urgent action is needed to transform the county’s Referral Hospital from a source of mental anguish for patients seeking care back into a sanctuary of healing for Kakamega residents.
The turmoil and neglect have left citizens pondering who will rescue them from this ordeal.
The County Assembly, once vocal, remains ominously silent as the Governor stretches his authority to silence members daring to question his reign. His newfound power, courtesy of his ODM chairmanship, now serves as a potent weapon to suppress dissent.
The scarcity of medicines and subpar services at the Referral Hospital reveals a staggering failure on the Governor’s part, especially considering his absence during these critical moments.
His subsequent attempts to alleviate the crisis with a mere influx of drugs demonstrates a lack of understanding.
Ordering drugs for the hospital without addressing underlying issue of poor management fell short of expectations. The underlying issue of mismanagement is a thorn that must be addressed, as the loss of 90 new-born lives paints a haunting picture.
Instead of instigating transformative change, the Governor opted to distribute medications, all while neglecting the essential shifts needed for proper service.
Reliable sources indicate that the health committee summoned the CEC to clarify the dire situation.
Shockingly, the Governor pre-emptively moved to side-line the committee chair, fearing their revelations might unravel his hidden schemes that plague the Referral and sub-county hospitals across Kakamega.
A prominent minority MCA, in a radio interview, revealed that the Governor’s knee-jerk reactions were fuelled by rumours and unfounded speculations. These impulsive actions are taking a toll on the people of Kakamega.
The vision behind the Constitution of Kenya 2010 was to establish a robust separation of powers and effective oversight.
The Governor’s blatant threats and removal of MCAs, all in the name of ODM Kakamega County Chairman, starkly contradicts this principle.
It calls into question ODM’s alignment with such actions, despite its leader’s historical support for devolution and democracy.
As this narrative unfolds, a brewing conflict between independent-minded MCAs and a Governor eager to consolidate power through intimidation and threats echoes through the assembly’s corridors.
Recent casualties, including Hon. Bernard Omboko, the Health Committee chair, and Hon. Donald Okumu, the Agriculture Committee chair, risk losing their positions due to the Governor’s iron grip on the assembly and overbearing influence.
In this context, we urge Kakamega Senator Hon. Bonny Khalwale to intervene.
The senate was established to safeguard devolution, making his involvement paramount. A strong step in the right direction would be to rescue the Kakamega County Assembly, where the speaker remains subject to the Governor’s directives.
Efforts to reach the two honourable members of the county assembly have proved unfruitful thus far, but updates will be promptly shared once obtained.
