Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has asked the government to fully devolve healthcare including the handling of community health promoters.
Natembeya has faulted the national government for continuing to carry out health functions that should be handled by counties as per the constitution.
He questioned why the national government did not disburse funds for health promoters directly to counties to pay the CHPs.
“Health is a fully devolved function of the counties and we are asking that it should be fully devolved as required by law so that the national government only handles policy matters,” Natembeya said.
He said continued handling of health matters by the national government amounted to sabotage against devolution.
Natembeya made the remarks during a funeral of Dismas Waswa who was father to lawyer Oringe Waswa at Kiminini.
The national government started paying the community health promoters last week.
"Let us respect devolution, health is fully devolved, and the money for CHPs should be channelled to counties so that we can make payments to them. That should not be business for the national government," Natembeya said.
Last year during the launching of 100,000 health promoters, the two levels of government agreed that each pays a CHP Sh2500 to make it a stipend of Sh5000 per month.
He said devolution would have a greater impact if both functions and attendant resources were handled by the counties.
At the same time, the governor urged area residents to register for identity cards in large numbers so that they could benefit from government services and also empower themselves politically.
He said all adults must have IDs and register as voters so that they have the freedom to make good decisions, especially during elections.
"Self-emancipation starts after registering to have the national identity cards. With an ID you will access many government programs and then come election time you register as a voter and elect leaders of your choice," the governor said.
The funeral was also attended by Mathare MP Anthony Oluoch, area MCA Simiyu Jamanur, MCAs Erick Wafula (Hospital), and Andrew Kutitila (Sikhendu).
Others were county secretary Truphosa Amere, Lands executive Janerose Mutama, and her agriculture counterpart Phanice Khatundi.
