Senate Uncovers Deepening Health Crisis in Northern Kenya
The Committee has called for immediate reforms, with county governors pledging swift corrective action to restore basic healthcare services.
A Senate Health Committee oversight mission has revealed a health crisis gripping Mandera, Wajir, and Marsabit counties, exposing widespread dysfunction in Kenya’s healthcare system in marginalized regions. Photo/Parliament of Kenya.
By Robert Assad
A Senate Health Committee oversight mission has revealed a health crisis gripping Mandera, Wajir, and Marsabit counties, exposing widespread dysfunction in Kenya’s healthcare system in marginalized regions.
Led by Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago, the inquiry brought to light rampant drug shortages, outdated equipment, severe understaffing, and financial mismanagement across the three counties.
In Mandera, Senators were confronted with broken dialysis machines and untrained staff dispensing drugs. At Mandera Teaching and Referral Hospital, only three out of five dialysis machines were functional, with CEO Okash Adan admitting they urgently need 10. Senators also heard allegations of drug theft and found expired medications at Khadija Dispensary.
Shockingly, unqualified personnel were found dispensing medicines. “We have serious staffing issues, expired drugs, and some facilities without pharmacists,” said Sen. Mariam Omar. Sen. Richard Onyonka questioned whether government drugs were being stolen and sold to private chemists, claims which local officials denied.
In Wajir, the Committee’s visit to Manyatta TB Centre and Wajir County Hospital revealed more lapses. Manyatta lacked a functioning laboratory, had poor staff security, and stored expired drugs on site.
Maternity services also faced critical shortages, with nurse Henry Kiplangat citing lack of mosquito nets, broken laundry machines, and inaccessible roads. Senators demanded explanations over a stalled incinerator project and the high TB prevalence.
Governor Ahmed Abdullahi admitted to the shortcomings and pledged to address the issues, including appointing a new hospital CEO and completing a KSh 600 million dumpsite by September.
Marsabit County’s situation was equally dire. The Committee found expired drugs being used and hazardous medical waste dumped in open areas or abandoned toilets. The county referral hospital lacked diagnostic equipment, forcing patients to travel to Nairobi for basic tests. Senators questioned the whereabouts of KSh 200 million allocated for ICU development during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Governor Mohamud Mohamed Ali claimed only KSh 18 million was used for ICU upgrades, insisting the unit was operational. Procurement irregularities also surfaced, with the hospital sourcing drugs from private suppliers in addition to KEMSA.
Senators on the mission, including Mariam Omar, Wafula Wakoli, and Abbas Sheikh Mohamed, expressed shock at the collapse of public healthcare in these counties.
They cited chronic understaffing, expired drugs, sanitation failures, and missing financial records. “We found expired drugs dumped in open fields and no incinerators. In one hospital, we found them stored in a disused toilet,” Sen. Wakoli said.
The Committee has called for immediate reforms, with county governors pledging swift corrective action to restore basic healthcare services.
About Author
