Senate summons Kihika over War Memorial Hospital saga

Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

The Senate Health Committee has summoned Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika over the dispute surrounding the War Memorial Hospital.

With services in the hospital paralyzed for the second month running, the Senate has called on all parties involved to furnish them with the ownership documents.

The move comes as the wrangles between the county and the hospital management persist with the latter accused of ignoring six court orders.

Last week, Chief Justice Martha Koome hit out at the county's top officials for disobedience of court orders as it emerged that judges handling the case had been threatened.

Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja said the committee was keen to get information from all parties on the hospital that has been in the news for the wrong reasons.

Ms Karanja revealed that she filed a petition in the Senate after the county took over the facility that has for years treated dialysis patients.

"All parties involved in this saga, including the Governor, have been summoned by the Senate so that the truth can be known," she said.

Addressing the press, the senator who has been vocal over the hospital saga, noted that more than 300 workers had lost their jobs due to the wrangles.

She said the hospital was critical to the health sector and vowed to continue fighting for its opening to end the suffering of patients.

The Senator pointed an accusing finger at Governor Kihika and the County Police Commander for the continued closure of the hospital.

"I was shocked when the governor met religious leaders and openly and without shame lied about the hospital, which continues to remain in the hands of goons," she said.

The Senator warned that failure to obey court orders spelt doom for the country, and that this had set a bad precedent and eroded investors' confidence.

"As a senator for Nakuru, I am afraid that my people's frustrations have reached fever pitch point, and I can feel their frustration," she said.