Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani has come under fire after senators found several incomplete and poorly functioning county projects.
A visit by the Senate Committee on Public Investments and Special Funds in Kwale County revealed how some of the taxpayer-funded projects were inefficient, and many projects praised by the county were not working.
At the Msambweni Hospital, the committee raised concerns over a delay in attending to patients. Only one computer was operational for registering patients, and many waited for over three hours to get attended to.
“We need to automate services so that there is no congestion of people seeking health services at the only referral hospital in the county,” said Geoffrey Osotsi, the committee chairperson.
The senators first met at Governor Achani’s office, where she announced that a 14-kilometre water pipeline and the Diani Bus Park were both complete.
But soon after, the senators visited the site at Tiwi Centre, where they found only a short section of the new pipeline buried.
“We congratulated the governor too early. This ditch can’t be called 14 kilometres. Water losses are still very high,” said Senator Osotsi.
At the Diani Bus Park, they found torn tents, no ticketing booths, and traders selling vegetables where matatus were supposed to operate.
“This looks more like a market, not a bus park. If the county calls this operational, what else are they sugar-coating?” asked Senator William Kisang.
Kwale County Secretary Sylvia Chidodo defended the projects, insisting they required only minor finishing works.
This came as the senators urged the government to release money owed to counties to help in providing services to locals and completing projects.
Kwale Nominated Senator Raphael Chimera admitted that SHA was not fully effective with the challenge of computers, leading to congestion and delay in health service provision to patients.
He also said the delay in sending counties money was affecting service delivery in public hospitals, urging Health Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale to fast-track the release of the funds.
“The ministry should ensure the SHA system is working so that we do not have delays here,” said Mr Chimera.
