Stop politicking with lives over drugs I donated, Nyamira senator warns

Nyamira Senator Kennedy Okong’o has blamed the county government for playing politics with people’s lives after its officials rejected drugs he donated to area health facilities.

Mr Okong’o said the county’s health officials rejected drugs worth Sh1.4 million that he had given to various health centres a month ago following a biting crisis of drugs in all the facilities.

INTERVENTION

He had issued the drugs as an intervention after a shortage that had almost crippled healthcare services in all centres.

County officials had rejected the donation saying no procedures were followed in the issuance of the drugs.

Okong’o said the officials were engaging in political games with the lives of people when they should be ensuring there are drugs all the time in health facilities.

“All the drugs I gave out were as an emergency intervention and there is no one who is justified in denying patients drugs just because they have been given by a political opponent,” said Okong’o.

Deputy Governor Amos Nyaribo had indicated that the county would destroy all the drugs, which were given to some dispensaries, saying he was being cautious.

Mr Nyaribo said the drugs were sneaked into county health facilities in a clandestine manner and it was not the right way to go about the donation of drugs that were not certified by the relevant authorities.

“Drugs are not like food which cannot be dished out to people anyhow without following due procedures with the relevant authorities,” said Nyaribo.

Nyaribo announced this after releasing a consignment of drugs worth more than Sh43 million to various health facilities.

County Executive for Health Andrew Ombati said the medicines will last for the next three months before another consignment is received.

Mr Ombati accused the national drugs supplier, Kenya Medical Supplies Agency, for delays in honouring procurement orders.

He said the county may consider finding an alternative supplier if the agency doesn’t change its ways.

Medicines worth Sh12 million will be used at the main hospital and the rest will be distributed to other hospitals.

Medical staff have been warned against pilfering Government medical supply and members of the public have been asked to team up with county administrators in identifying the culprits.