Kakamega: Uproar as Dispensary Started in 2018 Stalls, Site Turned into Children’s Playground
- Locals in Musanda, Mumias West sub-county, are often forced to travel for at least ten kilometres to access the nearest public health facility
- The Kakamega county initiated a plan to address the challenge in 2018 with the construction of a dispensary in the area, but to date, only a gate is the only tangible development they can see
- A field that was to host the dispensary has been turned into a children’s playground, and the locals blame the county leadership
Kakamega: Residents of Musanda Ward, Mumias West Sub-county, continue to struggle to access health services as a project that was meant to address the challenge stalls.
Source: Facebook
When did Ebubala Dispensary project start?
The county government of Kakamega earmarked a site for the Ebubala Dispensary in the area in 2018. However, over seven years later, only a gate is in place, with no structures.
Locals who spoke to TUKO.co.ke said they have been forced to walk for at least 10 kilometres to access a nearby public health facility – Musanda Dispensary.
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The project was initiated during the leadership of the current Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises Cabinet Secretary, Wycliffe Oparanya.
“The contractor came and built a gate and later left the site. Until now, we haven't seen any progress in putting up structures here,” Peter Mung'oma, a local, told TUKO.co.ke.
With the site abandoned for years, it has since turned into a children’s playground and a grazing field for the locals’ livestock.
The locals have demanded answers over the stalled project, and want the county to decide if they are still interested in going ahead with the project or the land be converted into another project that can benefit them.
They hit out at the current administration for ignoring their plea for the project to be completed.
“We want this land to be utilised properly so that we benefit as a community. If the county has no funds to build a hospital, let it build another facility that will benefit us instead of wasting this land," Mung’oma said.
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State of health sector in Kakamega
The locals further accused the county of neglecting the health sector. They claimed that aside from the stalled dispensary project, other health facilities within the sub-county where they seek services lack essential medical supplies like drugs and beds for the patients.
"Our current leadership in Kakamega is full of false promises. Our patients at county health facilities are at high risk because there are no drugs or favourable equipment at our hospitals, so we call upon our Governor Barasa to expedite the transformation of our health sector," said Winfred Abuti, a local woman leader.
Musanda Ward Member of County Assembly (MCA), Joseph Omusinde, however, assured locals that the county had pledged to allocate funds to facilitate the completion of the stalled Ebubala Dispensary.
Source: Facebook
Omusinde further said Governor Fernandes Barasa had assured him of plans to rehabilitate all existing health facilities and ensure they are well equipped to serve the people.
"I talked to the governor about the facility, and he told me that currently the county is refurbishing existing health centres like Musanda Dispensary, and after the renovations, it will embark on building new ones across the county,” the MCA told TUKO.co.ke.
“Those who are speaking negatively about this dispensary should stop because the governor will deliver," he added.
Abandoned Mombasa housing project
Previously, TUKO.co.ke reported that senators were left in shock after they found an affordable housing project site launched by President William Ruto abandoned.
Tens were evicted from a piece of land to pave the way for the Mzizima Affordable Housing project, but over a year later, nothing was on site.
The site was to be home to at least 2,000 housing units under the government's affordable housing initiative.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Joshua Cheloti (Editorial assistant) Joshua Cheloti is a multi-skilled journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media and Communication at Mount Kenya University. At TUKO, he's an editorial assistant. Before TUKO, he worked at Nairobi Review as an editorial writer, at Hope Media (Hope TV and Hope FM) as a correspondent in Eldoret, Hivisasa.com digital content editor and online writer, at Biblia Husema Broadcasting (BHB), Eldoret as Radio Presenter. Email: Joshua.cheloti@tuko.co.ke
Rasto Wamalwa Rasto Wamalwa is a political and current affairs journalist with over five years of experience in broadcast and print media. I have worked in various radio stations such as Bk Radio, Mitume Fm, Khendo Fm and Radio Matumaini. I also served as a news correspondent at The Kenya Times, Countysplash newspaper and Shahidi online news. I am based in Kakamega county.
