• He has termed the theft the most heinous crimes against the people of Siaya.
• Last week, the Star interviewed 13 patients and caregivers who said they had received no medicine or just some of those on the prescription list.
Image: JOSIAH ODANGA
Siaya Governor James Orengo on Tuesday called on members of the public to be vigilant and report to authorities any private healthcare facility or home with stocks of medicine bearing the KEMSA logo.
The governor admitted that cases of drugs meant for county public hospitals are being diverted to private facilities.
"I must confess that there are also cases of pilferage of medicine in our health institutions some of which are eventually found in private healthcare outlets including pharmacies," he said.
He spoke during his inaugural address at the opening of the 3rd Siaya County Assembly.
Orengo termed the theft the most heinous crimes against the people of Siaya.
His confession came in the wake of a recent finding by the Star that the pharmacy at Siaya County Referral Hospital, the largest healthcare facility in the county, was still empty just a fortnight after medicines were dispatched.
Orengo did not, however, specify whether the medicine dispatched to the county hospital were the ones that had been pilfered.
Last week, the Star interviewed 13 patients and caregivers who said they had received no medicine or just some of those on the prescription list.
Orengo said that the health sector in the devolved unit has been adversely affected by consequences of financial indiscipline and lack of prudent use of public funds.
Investigating agencies are currently scrutinising the alleged loss of Sh72 million which was meant for the installation of an ICU unit but only ventilators donated by Kijabe Hospital were installed.
Last month, Orengo launched the construction of a modern surgical theatre complex, complete with an ICU wing - to be properly equipped.
It is projected to be completed by end of May, 2023.
"There are instances when funds secured in the budget for the purchase of essential drugs have been raided and spent in less deserving cases," he said.
However, Orengo informed the assembly that he has directed that money allocated to health sector should be ring fenced for that purpose only, whatever the emergency.
The governor promised to automate processes to secure and save medicines from theft and wastage.
Siaya county's own source revenue has a potential of constructing modern hospitals in Yala, Bondo and Ambira within the next five years, he said.
On the agricultural and extractives front, Orengo said that Siaya has a great potential owing to it's generally arable land, deposits of gold and rivers Nzoia and Yala.
"Siaya can be food secure and commercial farming or agriculture is not possible but has great potential."
For the longest time, Siaya has been known as a net importer of food, despite receiving an average rainfall of 1400mm per annum.
Orengo urged the assembly to back his soon to be rolled out efforts to make agriculture profitable and Siaya food secure.
On the Yala Swamp ecosystem, Orengo said that it's diversity is unique and there is urgent need to exploit it's potential.
A battle has been simmering over the ownership of the wetland pitting the administration of first governor Cornel Rasanga, the National Lands Commission, investor M/S Lake Agro Ltd, Wildlife and environment Conservators and the local community.
Orengo said that the local community must be listened to if anything good is to happen on the swamp.
"We must protect the right of communities living in or around the swamp as a first step in realising it's vitality as a source of abundant resources and without disturbing it's dynamic nature as a habitat."
Siaya county is on top of things planning for cashless transaction with an aim of curbing mismanagement of public funds.
While citing the stalled Siaya Stadium as an example, Orengo said that the money expended had exceeded the budgetary allocation.
He said e-governance will be embraced in order to provide a trail in cases of theft.