Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on Monday announced that he had waived hospital bills for patients at the Mbagathi Hospital who had overstayed for over a month.
Governor Sonko issued the executive order asking the hospital to discharge the patients following the waiver.
The governor had toured the hospital on Sunday and interacted with a number of patients at the wards.
The governor posted numerous photos of the visit on his Facebook account where he was seen conversing with hospital officials.
[caption caption="Governor Mike Sonko takes notes as he interacts with patients at the Mbagathi Hospital"][/caption]
Governor Sonko had conducted an impromptu visit to the Kangemi Health Centre where he was alarmed to discover that women were being charged for maternity services.
The situation led the governor to suspend County Health Executive Hitam Majevda and County Health Director Thomas Ogaro over what he termed as laxity.
Governor Sonko had asked a woman present at the facility whether she had paid for any services and she conveyed that she had been made to buy basic hygiene items.
"Where is the Minister, why are women paying to deliver. Why was she told to buy JIK and medicines when delivery should be free in county hospitals?" the governor posed.
The Health CEC who was present at the time was further questioned: "Where is the Finance Minister, how much did we release to KEMSA... Kshs.58 Million and why are there no drugs in the hospitals?"
The governor then proceeded to give Hitam and Ogaro 14 days to explain why Nairobi County medical facilities had poor services and lacked medicines.
[caption caption="Governor Sonko speaks with healthcare providers at the Mbagathi Hospital during a tour"][/caption]