Senators opposes plans to revert health services to National Government

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale (left), flanked by officials from various counties speaks to journalist at Mombasa Serena Beach Resort at the end of a two-day workshop for the 47 county public accounts and investments committee chairpersons. Dr Khalwale said it would be contrary to the Constitution to deprive county governments of the management of health services. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale said it would be contrary to the Constitution to deprive county governments of the function.
  • Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar said management of health services should remain under the county governments.
  • And in a joint statement, the committee leaders said they were satisfied with health services in the counties.

Two senators and county assembly officials have dismissed the National Assembly’s plan to return the management of health services to the National Government.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale said it would be contrary to the Constitution to deprive county governments of the function.

“The health sector is a lucrative docket where people can cut deals especially during the procurement process and this could be one of the reasons why some people want it back to the National Government,” Dr Khalwale said at the Serena Beach Hotel on Saturday.

He was answering questions from journalists at the end of a two-day workshop for the 47 county public accounts and investments committee chairpersons.

Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar said the position of the Senate and the county governments was that the management of health services should remain under the county governments.

“The benefits of devolving health further outweigh the desire to revert it back to the National Government,” he said.

And in a joint statement, the committee leaders said they were satisfied with health services in the counties.

They said patients can now easily get services in hospitals, health centres, dispensaries and from ambulances.