Nakuru county Senator Tabitha Karanja has warned Governor Susan Kihika that the continued closure of War Memorial Hospital will force residents to take the ''matter into their hands.''
The senator said residents would invoke Article 1 of the Constitution and that she as the Senator will have no option but to comply.
The article states that the power belongs to the people and that they can exercise it directly or indirectly in the furtherance of their aspirations.
"I'm sorry to tell the governor I think they (people) have reached their peak now meaning they will apply Article 1 of the constitution. I have no option but to comply."
She did not specify the action that the people would take.
In a press address on Sunday, Senator Karanja claimed that Kihika irregularly ordered the county government officers to man the facility and deny anyone seeking access.
"Are you doing justice when you refused to obey six court orders? When over 300 health workers are rendered jobless, when thousands of patients are seeking medical attention, when you send country askaris to forcefully transfer patients who are on life-supporting machines against their will," she posed to Governor Kihika.
The Senator further claimed that police had not withdrawn officers from the said facility, alleging that the officers are still there and operations have remained paralysed.
"The police confirmed that they are under firm instructions by the county police commander through our governor to deny any access to both management and patients," she noted.
The Nakuru War Memorial Hospital management and the Nakuru County government have been embroiled in a tussle over the 25-acre piece of land.
For months now, the county government has been fighting to take over the facility after its 95-year lease expired in 2021.
Trouble started on October 28, last year, when the county government invaded the facility on claims that the management had illegally acquired a 50-year lease extension.
However, the county takeover of the hospital was upset two days later when the Environment and Land Court issued orders directing it to vacate the facility and stop meddling in its management.
The latest saga started on January 19, when five people including two senior directors of the hospital, were arrested on claims of forging a lease document for the land.
The following day, the county government led by county secretary Samuel Mwaura raided the hospital, took over the management and kicked out hospital staff.
Efforts by the court to have the county vacate the hospital have been futile as the area police boss has yet to implement the order.
