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{
    "id": 1169154,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1169154/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 145,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "The Deputy Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "(v) THAT a Petition for the impeachment of the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health was presented to the County Assembly by members of staff in the Health Department, citing issues of poor leadership, incompetence and abuse of office. However, concerns raised in the Petition have not been resolved by the Assembly. Lack of integrity in the department of health. (i) THAT there is financial impropriety and violation of procurement procedures for health services. A case in point involves the purchase of World Bank Sponsored Medical Equipment such as Mama Kits, delivery couches, laptops and others. (ii) THAT the money allocated in the budget has not been utilised as expected and according to the needs of the department. Such needs include, laboratory reagents, staff promotions, procurement of utility vehicles and completion of stalled projects in the department, including Kesses Sub County Hospital, Ziwa Sub County Hospital, West Maternity Hospital and Moiben Health Centre which have stalled. (iii) THAT the officers who were suspended in a recent case that involved financial misappropriation for a planned training for healthcare workers in Chebororwa have reported back to work despite being implicated in misappropriation of public funds. (iv) THAT the department misappropriated the funds directed towards the COVID-19 support. A matter that is in public record and an auditor report record confirms the same. Poor human resources practises. (v) THAT there has been a stagnation and freeze on recruitment of staff over the years thereby leading to severe shortage of human resources for health care workers and demoralized staff across all cadres. Several medical officers have been removed from the payroll or had their salaries stopped unprocedurally as a disciplinary measure on unfounded allegations without following human resource policy guidelines on disciplinary cases. This has led to demoralization of staff in the department and poor service delivery. Various avenues of assistance has been sought to no avail. (i) THAT in March 2019, the Union filed a Petition to the county assembly concerning the mismanagement of the department of health. In June 2019, the county assembly responded, stating that they presented the case on 13th June, 2019, and concluded that the matter was serious and needed to be resolved. However, nothing has been done to date with the limited resources in the county assembly. In November, 2020, a strike notice was given by the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) and the Kenya Union of Nurses (KUN) concerning matters such as inadequacy of medical equipment and medical cover for front line workers, recruitment of more medical staff and payment of salary arrears among other issues. The strike began on the 7th December, 2020. The response from the county was to issue letters to health workers citing gross misconduct due to absence from office. (ii) THAT in February, 2021, the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Services set up a reconciliatory meeting between the KUCO and the County Government of Uasin Gishu on the 15th February, 2021, to discuss matters such as promotion of clinical officers, payment of withheld salaries and provision of comprehensive medical cover, including other matters."
}