By MN Reporter
The recent Kuria West police arrest of two suspects after angry residents busted suspicious sale of beds at Kehancha Sub-county Hospital has thrown into light scam putting at risk recently launched 800 beds.
Kehancha town residents grew suspicious as several vehicles, reported to be three, entered the facility and started to load beds.
Kehancha Hospital recently received 60 new beds out of 800 launched by governor Okoth Obado on February 10 which raised eyebrows.
READ MORE HERE: PATHETIC! Suspected thieves, health officials stole beds from Kehancha Hospital
Attempts to inquire about the legality of the exercise by residents were met with muted response by officials at the hospital who claimed the move was okayed by Ministry of Health in Migori town.
Solomon Rioba, a cleric in Kehancha town in a report at Kehancha Police station said they wanted the people arrested and questioned.
“When police delayed to respond, Rioba led angry citizens to arrest a vehicle which was laden with beds. Two people, a driver and a businessman, were arrested,” Cleti Kimaiyo, Kuria West police boss said.
At first, the suspects claimed they had bought the beds from the August 3 auction by the county government as scrap metals.
“The beds we impounded were still new, they were far from being scrap metals. When we contacted hospital administration they said they never okayed the move,” Kimaiyo said.
READ MORE HERE: County government vehicle auction marred with greed, scam- Migori police holding a vehicle
Pressed further the two suspects produced a document from an auctioneer which claimed they had won the tender.
“When we contacted the auctioneer they denied the letter as fake,” Kimaiyo said.
Senior health officials involved
But angry Kehancha residents said senior health officials are involved in the heist and know how the beds were taken.
“We tried to inquire from local officials at the hospital and police, their delays saw two vehicles make a gate way. It was only citizen’s arrest which brought this brazen corruption to light,” Abel Mwita, a resident said.
Residents said Kehancha hospital was the center of 2017 Migori governor election with corruption, poor services, lack of equipment and medicine forming key campaign tool.
“We only know of corruption in awarding of tenders, for Migori to even steal what is bought for common wanainchi is the worst form of stealing from people. It is inhumane and an insult not only to Migori residents, but a legacy on Obado,” a medic at the facility told Migori News.
Medics said delays by Ministry of Health officials in Migori and senior county government officers to follow up with the police saw the two suspects released on police bond.
“They were released as we continue with investigations and establish from county government,” Kimaiyo said.
On February 10, Obado who takes health as a milestone in a legacy for his ten years rule of Migori launched 800 beds.
According to Obado, the bed were to be distributed across 14 hospitals:
- Migori County Referral Hospital 360 beds
- Kehancha Sub County Hospital 60 beds
- Kegonga Sub County Hospital 30 beds
- Ntimaru Sub County Hospital 30 beds
- Isebania Sub County Hospital 30 beds
- Macalder Sub County Hospital 30 beds
- Karungu Sub County Hospital 20 beds
- Rongo Sub County Hospital 60 beds
- Awendo Sub County Hospital 60 beds
- Uriri Sub County Hospital 30 beds
- Nyamaraga Sub County Hospital 30 beds
- Oyani Sub County Hospital 20 beds
- Muhuru Sub County Hospital 20 beds
- Othoro Sub County Hospital 20 beds
The legacy now risks being tainted.
