Governors demand more money for health sector

Council of Governors has demanded for an increased allocation of funds to run the health sectors in the counties.

Speaking on Citizen TV’s Sunday Live Show, the council chair Peter Munya accused the Ministry of Health of holding on to Sh44 billion and allocating the 47 counties a paltry Sh16 billion to divide amongst themselves.

“In the last financial year, the Ministry of Health was allocated Sh44 billion while the entire devolved health sector was given Sh16 billion.”

Munya said it was imprudent for the Ministry of Health to be given that much money yet it only manages two hospitals – Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospitals, which he alleged were in poor state.

The Meru governor further attributed the perpetual nurses’ strikes to delayed release of funds by the national government calling for a quick resolution on the matter.

He warned Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia against issuing ultimatums to the county governments saying the two levels of government are sovereign according to the Constitution.

Munya blamed the government over the on-going crisis in the health sector but expressed the council’s willingness to dialogue with the government in order to reach an amicable solution that will help address pressing issues in the sector.

“We have two sovereign level of governments in the new Constitution – county and national levels – and CS Macharia cannot issue ultimatums to the county governments,” he said.

Nurses in Nyeri, Nandi and Nakuru were on strike last week over delayed salaries. The strikes were, however, called after the governors settled the nurses pay.