Crack whip at NHIF, Governor Barasa urges President Ruto

Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa holds/presents a gift to Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kakamega Bishop Joseph Obanyi as St Mary's Mumias Girls High. [Okumu Modachi, Standard]

Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has urged President Ruto to deal with rogue officials behind graft at the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).

Barasa said bad leadership witnessed at the national health insurer will compromise citizens' health.

"I want to call on the president to take stern action on perpetrators of mismanagement of health public funds. I know we are pumping a lot of money to the NHIF," Barasa said.

Barasa who chairs the finance committee of Council of Governors called for forensic audit to unearth the rot at the troubled state firm.

"It is a high time investigative agencies take up audit so that all fellows misappropriating funds at NHIF are brought to book," said Barasa.

Governor Barasa spoke St. Mary's Mumias Girls High School during the school's Golden Jubilee celebrations.

He pledged his government's support for the school rated as a top performer.

He however challenged school's alumni associations and all others stakeholders across the county to support their alma mater.

"I would like to appeal to you all particularly the alumni of our various learning institutions to go back to the schools which nurtured you and contribute to the nurturing of another child," he stated.

Started in 1973 with a handful of 23 students, the school has grown to a capacity of more than 1,700 learners.

The school has seven streams in Forms One, and Two while Form Three and Four has six streams. The school which has a population of 1,711 began in 1973 with only 23 students.

The school was founded by former Mumias legislator Francis Obongita with the idea of having a girls' boarding school.

Later, the school flourished courtesy of Catholic Diocese of Kisumu under Bishop Joannes de Reeper and Rev. Fr. Peter Claver.

The two were in charge of Mumias Catholic Parish.

Alumni were feted during the ceremony, among them, Rita Ombito Katam who was among the first 34 students to sit national exams in the institution in 1979.

Ombito is the current curriculum support officer in Mumias West Sub County.

He has previously served as a national trainer of trainers on curriculum implementation.

Busia Woman MP Catherine Omanyo, Linda Kaleha, Lecturer USA, Kenyatta University senior lecturer Rubai Mandela, Judith Ashelyne (people management specialist) and Hendricah Lisutsa were also celebrated.