Kakamega Governor Urges Health Committee to Halt Funding Threats Amid Doctor Strike

Kakamega Governor, Fernandes Barasa, has called on the Health Committee to cease issuing threats of withholding funds destined for devolved functions in counties.

 Addressing the congregation at Bulimbo Catholic Church in Matungu Constituency, He said that health is a fundamental devolved function, asserting counties' rights to receive allocated funds for it.

The Governor expressed concern over the ongoing strike by medical practitioners, highlighting the distress faced by patients in hospitals. 

He urged doctors to consider the plight of the suffering patients, especially as counties are actively engaging in resolving the issues raised by the striking medics.

This comes even as the certainty of when the strike is likely to be called off remains unknown. 

Doctors on Tuesday rejected the government offer extended to them, saying they were not ready to compromise until the issue of posting medical interns is addressed.

This was despite the government saying that Sh6.1 billion had been released to address the issues raised by the doctors.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union SG Davji Atellah said they will not abandon the interns, terming them vulnerable.

"As a community, we are not used to abandoning the most vulnerable, and to us, interns are currently very vulnerable," Atellah said.

The doctors have now been on strike for 41 days since March 14, 2024, paralysing service provision across all public health facilities.

Speaking after the Whole of the Nation approach meeting, Health CS Susan Nakhumicha said the ministry had received Sh6.1 billion to settle issues raised by the striking doctors.

Nakhumicha further noted that the committee had instructed their counsel to file a status report in court after the doctors failed to call off their strike.

"As a government, through the ministry, we have received Sh6.1bn for settlement of the issues raised by the doctors," Nakhumicha said.