The Kirinyaga government will soon commission 19 dispensaries.
Governor Anne Waiguru said Wednesday the completion of the facilities will help decongest bigger hospitals that are overwhelmed by patients. Some of them bear the brunt of Covid-19.
Once they start operating, it will be easy to ensure social distancing and minimise interaction between Covid patients and those suffering from other infections, she said.
“We are concerned about the steady rise of Covid infection in our county and that's why we are going round inspecting the state of the construction of our dispensaries.
"The facilities will play a great role in improving the health state of residents, particularly as the county continues to face the Covid-19 situation," Waiguru said.
She was speaking at the Kianjiru dispensary in Baragwi ward, Gichugu, after inspecting a dispensary that has already been completed. She authorised the staffing, equipping and commissioning of the facility in the next two weeks. Earlier in the day, she inspected Kiambui health centre, which is nearing completion.
Waiguru expressed hope that the Covid situation will subside by October to enable more people to attend the Mashujaa Day national celebrations at Wang’uru Stadium in Mwea.
She said that after the event, the stadium will help the youth to nurture their sporting skills. Waiguru also distributed sports jerseys, balls, reflectors, plastic chairs, tents and sound and music equipment to youth groups in Baragwi and Njuki-ini wards.
On the 2021-22 county budget, which has yet to be presented in the county assembly, the governor said the delay was occasioned by the pending negotiations with the county assembly on key allocations.
“We are one of the counties that receive limited funds. We, therefore, have to negotiate and do thorough planning in close partnership with the assembly so that we can justly allocate funds to priority projects," she said.
"Over the years, Kirinyaga has received less than Sh1 billion for implementing development projects and so we have had a problem while planning and budgeting because the fund is too little.”
Waiguru said the lion’s share of this year’s Sh5.7 billion budget will be allocated to health and agriculture dockets. She also insisted on the need to have the county allocated more funds from the national revenue.
Her sentiments were backed by Baragwi MCA David Mathenge who is also the county assembly’s budget committee chair. He assured residents that the county leadership is deliberating on a budget that will prioritise key projects.
“I urge for patience from residents because budget allocations require a negotiation process, which we have been undertaking with the executive. By next week, we will be done streamlining a few nitty-gritty and thereafter it will be unveiled to the county," Mathenge said.
