The Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds confronted officials from Elgeyo Marakwet County over critical deficiencies at Iten County Referral Hospital, severely undermining its quality of healthcare.
During a session reviewing the 2023/2024 financial year, the committee highlighted alarming gaps in accountability, infrastructure and staffing that threaten service delivery.
Senator Godfrey Osotsi, chair of the committee, criticised the hospital’s failure to provide essential supporting documents during an audit.
Key records, including the board of survey report, stock take report, and store ledgers were missing initially, raising concerns about transparency.
“The absence of these documents raises serious questions about the hospital’s accountability,” said Sen Osotsi. Although the documents were later submitted, he stressed, “Delayed submissions do not rectify lapses in accountability.”
Iten County Referral Hospital audit issues
The audit revealed additional irregularities, such as the uncontrolled issuance of pharmaceuticals worth Ksh. 21,854,113, which violated procurement regulations. This lack of oversight made it impossible to track drug usage or generate revenue.
Senator Eddy Oketch, vice chair of the committee described this as a “red flag for mismanagement,” emphasizing the risks posed by weak inventory controls.
Further scrutiny exposed outdated fixed asset registers lacking details like identification numbers and acquisition dates. Critical infrastructure, including ICU beds and diagnostic equipment, was also missing.
Senator William Kisang noted, “Without proper asset management, verifying ownership or valuation becomes impossible.”
Staff shortages compounded the issues, with only 9 medical officers instead of the required 50 and no anesthesiologists for a Level 5 facility. Senator Agnes Kavindu warned, “Mismanagement of resources jeopardizes patient care.”
Governor Wisley Rotich cited budget constraints but assured efforts to address the gaps through staff training and donor support.
Despite these assurances, the committee warned that the hospital risks sanctions and compromised healthcare services for residents without significant improvements.
