Natembeya defies critics, pledges to complete Sh4bn referral hospital
Over Sh2 billion already used on construction of the new referral hospital
by BY MATHEWS NDANYI
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Residents outside the Wamalwa Kijana Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kitale
Governor George Natembeya has pledged to complete the
Sh4 billion Wamalwa Kijana Teaching and Referral Hospital, saying it will
transform healthcare in Trans Nzoia and reduce the need for residents to seek
treatment elsewhere.
More than Sh2.5 billion has been spent on the
construction and equipping of the facility, which is expected to cost about Sh4
billion upon completion.
Natembeya said despite what he described as
political propaganda aimed at undermining the hospital's operations, the
facility was already offering quality services and the county government would
continue investing in its expansion.
The county has gradually relocated several health
services from Kitale County Referral Hospital to the new facility, which was
initiated by former Governor Patrick Khaemba.
Natembeya said more than Sh2 billion had been
invested in developing the hospital, which he recently renamed the Wamalwa
Kijana Teaching and Referral Hospital in honour of former Vice President Kijana Wamalwa.
“Although the new hospital was initiated by my
predecessor, I am not like other people who would have abandoned it. I decided
that it had consumed a lot of public money and we have to complete the facility
and put it to use,” Natembeya said.
The governor criticised some of his detractors, saying
many had never visited the hospital but continued to spread negative
information about it.
“Some of those critics have been hired by those with
private hospitals to ensure residents of Trans Nzoia do not go for better
services in such a good public hospital,” Natembeya said while speaking at his
office in Kitale.
His remarks came as the county intensifies efforts to
improve healthcare services and expand access to specialised treatment.
Recently, the governor's spouse, Lillian Natembeya,
hosted cancer patients and appealed to stakeholders to support people receiving
palliative care in the region.
During a meeting at her Milimani office in Kitale, she
expressed concern that many patients under palliative care were unable to
access a balanced diet, which is essential to their wellbeing and recovery.
She called on the business community, local farmers,
non-governmental organisations and both levels of government to work together
in supporting healthcare initiatives across the county.
Natembeya said the county's focus was increasingly
shifting towards primary healthcare, including disease prevention, early
diagnosis, treatment, management of lifestyle-related illnesses and the
promotion of healthy diets.
He said the Natecare initiative would provide
healthcare coverage for vulnerable residents who are unable to meet medical
costs on their own.
According to the governor, the long-term goal is to
ensure the referral hospital provides a wide range of specialised services,
including cancer care, closer to home.
“We have to ensure that our people do not travel outside the county to seek
health services that can be affordably offered locally,” Natembeya said.
Residents outside the Wamalwa Kijana Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kitale 
