A war of words has erupted in Kitui between Governor Julius Malombe and Mwingi Central MP Gideon Mulyungi over the transfer of doctors in the region.
The county government recently announced transfers involving medics and health workers across the country that saw Mwingi Level IV Hospital medical superintendent Dr Evans Mumo moved.
Dr Hellen Munyao was appointed to replace Mumo while Dr Kennedy Vundi was named Munyao's deputy.
Mumo, who has served at the Mwingi facility for many years, was moved to Mwingi North subcounty as the health administrator in charge of Kyuso and Tseiluru level four hospitals.
Mulyungi has rejected the move and demanded that Mumo be reinstated to his position at the Mwingi Level IV Hospital.
But Malombe has since defended the transfers ruling out a reversal of the move.
The MP claimed that the top medics posted to Mwingi Hospital, that is domiciled in his constituency, were previously involved in cases professional negligence.
He has threatened to mobilise a massive demonstration if Mumo’s transfer is not reversed. He has said the new doctors at Mwingi were unwanted and should be removed.
But fielding questions from the media Malombe said that the medical staff shake-up was final and any persons raising issues with the doctors sent to Mwingi were misguided and must check their facts.
He said it was regrettable that leaders had been fed with lies and intern used the same to peddle misinformation on the Doctors newly posted to Mwingi.
“Once a leader gets some information from someone check the fact before going public with false information,” he added in response to Mulyungi’s public utterances.
He said in-depth investigations will be carried out as there was no room for any doctor or county officer to besmirch the name of fellow doctors based on falsehoods.
“I have received a report from the Kenya Medical Practitioners' Council about the two mentioned medics, and I can state with authority that there is nowhere any of them has ever been involved in cases of professional negligence as alleged,” said Malombe.
He also condemned the last Sunday assault of Dr. Vundi by people opposed to his working at Mwingi hospital. He assured that the law will not spare the culprits as the matter had been taken up by the police.
Malombe said no threat to the doctors posted to Mwingi will be condoned and the security agencies were on the matter to ensure their security was guaranteed. He said culprits will face the law.
“It is most unfortunate that one of the doctors, Dr. Vundi was assaulted on Sunday, the matter was reported to the police, it was entred in the OB and the law will take its course,” said the governor.
He emphasized that no one irrespective of status had express privilege to threaten other people. He said the new doctors will remain in Mwingi and will be protected against any form of threats.
“If anybody arranges for them to be hurt or harms them indirectly the law will take its course. It is time for people who are used to conducting their business through threats, intimidation and beating others to know they can reach an end,” Malombe said.
