Busia County on the spot as Senate flags non-functional ICU, dilapidated schools

Busia County government is yet again in the spotlight over the deplorable state of health and education facilities in the devolved unit.

A spot check by the Senate Public Accounts Committee and Education Committees revealed massive mismanagement of critical institutions, denying thousands of Busia residents essential services due to their substandard conditions.

According to the Senate Public Accounts Committee, which inspected the referral hospital, the facility lacks a functional ICU, yet Ksh.5 million was allegedly allocated for a feasibility exercise.

The Senate legislative watchdog says the Busia-based hospital also lacks a functional ambulance, dialysis machine, and oxygen plant.

“This is the hospital where the county government gave Ksh.5 million for consultancy… It’s the same hospital where Ksh.5 million was spent on the feasibility of the ICU. The ICU is not functioning, the dialysis machine has stalled, they do not even have an ambulance, and the oxygen plant is not functioning because they have a missing valve. This is a matter that requires urgent intervention," said Senate PAC Chair Moses Kajwang'.

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah added: “Everything in Busia is in need of attention.”

Other than the health sector, the status of learning facilities in the county reveals massive mismanagement of critical institutions, denying thousands of Busia residents essential services due to their substandard conditions.

A spot check of early childhood development centres by the Senate Education Committee in Anuai, Nambale, Okisimo and Manyole painted a devastating learning crisis caused by dilapidated facilities.

“We have buildings with no equipment… they have been here for three months without capitation," stated Nominated Senator Betty Montet.

Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu on her part noted, "Governor, you are in charge of oversight… how can such a school be in such a dire situation?”

Nominated Senator Margaret Kamar added; “The problem here is with the county government. In 2022/23, Ksh.4.9 million was allocated… wamekuwa wakitangaza kazi but there is no bidder because the county government does not pay contractors.”

The Busia County Assembly Education Committee has been given a one-month ultimatum to conduct an audit on the status of education in the county and submit its report to the Senate.

Early this week, Busia County Government was flagged by the Senate for controversially acquiring a Ksh.4 million consultancy fee for the determination of the status of the Busia Referral Hospital - the medical facility is yet again at the centre of another multi-million shilling fraud allegation.