By Arnold Ageta
Nyamira County Governor Amos Nyaribo has today flagged off drugs worth over KES 100 million, just a week after Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale claimed that the health sector in Nyamira County had collapsed.
The drugs, which were procured through the Nyamira County Revolving Health Products and Technologies Agency Fund, will be distributed to various health facilities across the county.
Addressing the public, healthcare staff and other stakeholders at the Nyamira County Referral Hospital where the flagging-off ceremony was held, Governor Nyaribo expressed his satisfaction with the agency’s operationalization, stating that this initiative will help resolve drug shortages in the county.
The agency, which is now domiciled at the Nyamira County Referral Hospital, was established in 2025 to address perennial drug shortages in its healthcare facilities.
“This is a semi-autonomous body that will oversee the procurement, supply, and management of all products and technologies in the devolved unit’s 116 health facilities in the county,” Nyaribo announced.
Dr. Donald Mogoi, County CEC for Health, said the Agency will relieve the county of lengthy procurement processes for hospital consumables that are often pegged on the availability of funds from the National Exchequer, as the agency will now operate using its own revolving cash.
According to Dr. Mogoi, the County Government provided seed money to the agency to help it attain sustainability, but it will eventually become self-reliant as the kitty grows.
“We have witnessed scenarios where patients are given prescriptions but there are no drugs in our stores. This revolving fund will now be charged with procurement cycles and can be efficiently managed,” Dr. Mogoi said.
Nyaribo assured the residents of Nyamira that drug shortages in the region will now be a thing of the past courtesy of the agency.
“Another batch of drugs worth more than KES 200 million will soon be supplied to the Agency in the coming weeks as the county strengthens the body,” the governor announced.
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The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) sales representative in the region, Susan Akumu, applauded the governor for his efforts in ensuring that patients are not sent out of hospitals to look for medication.
She also assured the governor that the remaining batch will be delivered next week as they begin working on the larger consignment of drugs worth over KES 200 million.
“KEMSA has been collaborating with the county in drug supply, and we are committed to supporting the county to ensure all county orders are fulfilled in time,” Ms. Akumu said.
She added that KEMSA has introduced new products and plans to educate healthcare staff on how to use and administer the new medications.
“We used to have training on the new products introduced to the market, but at some stage, they stopped. We are now planning to revive them to help healthcare staff best serve the patients,” she revealed.
According to Governor Nyaribo, the agency will ensure all hospitals in the region are replenished with medical supplies once their management submits requisitions.
The governor also urged residents to register with the Social Health Authority (SHA) so they can benefit from the revamped medical supplies in the county.
Governor Nyaribo asked the management of all 116 facilities in the region to take advantage of the claiming system under SHA to enable 100 percent reimbursement for the commodities in their hospitals.
The governor also disclosed that plans were underway to devolve the renal unit at Nyamira County Referral Hospital.
He noted with concern that the current renal unit in Nyamira is congested and begins operating at 3:00 AM until late at night to serve patients.
“We are going to introduce renal units at Keroka and other sub-county hospitals to reduce the number of patients who seek dialysis services at our referral hospital,” he said.
Reiterating his stance on the row between himself and CS Aden Duale, Nyaribo stated he will not sign off on hiring medical equipment fronted by the CS.
“We are soon acquiring a new MRI and other machines for our Referral Hospital, but we will not go the ‘Duale way,’ where the hospital receives nothing from the hired machines,” he said.
The governor claimed that machines issued under the National Equipment Support Program (NESP) exploit the county regarding revenue sharing, where the owner receives 80 percent while the county retains only 20 percent.
“Keroka Sub-county Hospital will also get a CT scan, and later Kijauri, Manga, Ekerenyo, and Magwagwa sub-county hospitals will follow,” he noted.
The governor announced that the county would procure theater equipment for Mokomoni, Nyamusi, Nyangena, and Magwagwa health centers, while Nyamaiya, Tinga, Getare, and Tombe health centers will be upgraded to Level 4 hospitals.
The governor’s announcement regarding the promotion of healthcare staff was received positively by medical personnel.
The governor promised that the promotions are long overdue and will be effected this financial year.
“All County employees will get promoted starting July this year,” the governor said. “I also direct that Community Health Promoters (CHPs) be paid their two months’ salary arrears within two weeks.”
He also directed that CHPs be paid their stipends at the same time county employees receive their salaries to motivate them in their duties.
However, the governor warned medical staff in rural health facilities who report to work late, stating they are endangering the lives of patients.
“Laxity is our enemy in the healthcare system and we do not want to go that way. You need to be responsible in the duties that have been given to you,” he concluded.
