Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale on Saturday took on Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja accusing him of not adequately staffing Pumwani Hospital, which he said is leading to high mortality rates at the facility.
The senator was speaking at Shirotsa Village in Khwisero Constituency while attending the burial of a 29-year old who had lost her life in the hospital.
According to reports, the lady died together with her unborn baby after queuing for four hours waiting for an operation at Pumwani Hospital.
The deceased had been referred to the hospital after she developed complications which necessitated a cesarean operation.
“She found Sakaja had not employed enough doctors to undertake surgery operations. That is why the small girl was queuing in the line,” Khalwale told mourners at Kisa West region.
The politician added that all the Governors in Kenya had failed to manage the health sector despite receiving adequate funds from the national government.
He added that no patient in Kenya should queue for four hours to receive a life saving procedure.
“If she had been operated on time, we would not be here today,” Khalwale stated.
Health is a devolved function, meaning that Governors are responsible for all operations in hospitals within their jurisdiction.
Pumwani Hospital has courted controversy since the inception of devolution and has come close to being shut down indefinitely on several occasions.
In 2018, the Senate faulted Nairobi County Government for neglect after reports highlighted frequent infant deaths at the institution.
Sakaja who was the Nairobi Senator at the time, accused the county government of running down the institution through mismanagement and plunder.
In 2020, public outcry ensued after after a woman delivered her baby by the roadside, outside the facility's gate moments after denied entry to the hospital.
Immediately after assuming power, Sakaja revamped the hospital including replacing a 43-year old lift.
He further appointed former Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Dr Mercy Mwangangi to serve as the Chairperson of the hospital's board of directors.
