Governor wants global health donors to deal directly with counties

Taita Taveta Governor John Mruttu has asked donors supporting health programmes in the country to directly deal with county governments.

The governor, who is also the Council of Governors (CoG) vice chairman, said health is one of the devolved functions, and therefore donor funds should be channelled through counties instead of the national government.

Mr Mruttu spoke in the wake of reports that the US government had withdrawn Sh2.1 billion funding to the Ministry of Health because of corruption and integrity issues at Afya House.

Speaking at Wesu Sub-County Hospital, the governor wondered why the national government was still holding onto some health functions four years after they were devolved.

"Health is a devolved function and donor agencies should directly channel funds to counties," he said.

He said the national government's support for counties in the health sector was limited.

"The county administration only receives support for TB drugs, ARVs and condoms from the national novernment, which are readily available in our stores," he said.