MARSABIT – A Senate Health Committee visit to Marsabit County has revealed a disturbing picture of dysfunction at the Marsabit County Referral Hospital, raising alarm over public health management in the region.
During the fact-finding mission, senators found the hospital overwhelmed, under-resourced, and poorly maintained.
Despite a doubling in monthly cancer clinic attendance, the facility lacked capacity to conduct essential lab tests, forcing patients to rely on diagnostic services in Nairobi.
The physical condition of the hospital told its own story: toilets were dry, wheelchairs were dirty, and gardens were left unkempt. Nurse Lokho openly admitted the plumbing system was broken.
More seriously, hospital staff confirmed that expired drugs and sanitizers were still in routine use, and hazardous medical waste was being stored in disused toilets or dumped in the open—posing a grave risk to patients and staff alike.
Financial accountability also came under sharp scrutiny. Senators were alarmed to learn that a KSh 200 million ICU budget could not be traced. Neither the hospital CEO nor the County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Health could explain the fund’s allocation.
Governor Mohamud Mohamed Ali responded by stating that the funds were part of a Covid-19 response grant received in 2020, clarifying that only KSh 18 million was allocated to ICU-related work.
However, the Committee remained unconvinced. “What you saw is functional,” the governor maintained, referencing the minimal ICU infrastructure visible during the visit.
Concerns were also raised over drug procurement, with the hospital sourcing medicines not only from the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) but also from a private supplier, Adhi Pharmacy—sparking questions about potential procurement irregularities.
A Regional Pattern of Neglect
Marsabit is not alone. Senators reported similar issues across Wajir and mandera counties: chronic understaffing, expired medical supplies, deteriorating infrastructure, and major lapses in financial transparency.
Key medical personnel were frequently absent, and drug storage and disposal methods were found to be dangerously substandard.
“We were shocked by the level of dysfunction,” said Senator Wakoli Wafula (Bungoma). “We found expired drugs dumped in open fields and no incinerators. In one hospital, they were stored in a disused toilet.”
As private health facilities rise and public ones continue to deteriorate, the Committee is now calling for immediate reforms. Each county governor has pledged rapid improvements in staffing, equipment, and financial oversight—but the Senators insist that stronger national intervention may be necessary to protect public health.
