Nandi Governor Stephen Sang has directed senior health officials to step aside.
In a directive commutated via a press release on Fiday, Sang said the decision was to allow for a probe into circumstances under which a patient is said to have died after treatment at the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital (KCRH).
The patient, Nancy Chepchumba Birgen, a teacher and resident of Nandi County is alleged to have sought treatment from the county hospital.
However, there are conflicting information in regards to her death, with the governor noting that her eulogy indicated that she was first treated at Mother Francisca Hospital she was referred to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret.
Chepchumba’s death has been trending for the last few days.
“The veracity of all these allegations including the quality of treatment given to the deceased has been raised,” read part of the statement signed by County Secretary Dr Francis Sang.
Among those that have been asked to step aside is County Executive Committee Member for Health Ruth Koech, Chief Officer for Health and Sanitation Fredrick Kiptum as well as the Director of Medical Services Dr. David Bungei.
The Kapsabet County Refferal Hospital Medical Superitendent Dr Aiyabei Ismael has also been asked to step aside.
The outpatient nurse, clinical officers and laboratory officers who were on duty on the 19th Day of May 2023, have also been directed to step aside until the investigations are completed.
5-member Commitee
This is even as the governor announced the formation of a 5-member committee to probe the incident.
The committee has been mandated to investigate and establish the circumstances around the medical treatment and patient management.
Further, the committee has been tasked to establish events preceding Chepchumba’s death.
“The committee should establish and report on the role played and any gaps attributable to the leadership of the County Health Department and in particular the staff t Kapsabet County Refferal Hospital,” noted the statement.
“The committee has 14 days to report back on this crucial assignment,” it added.
Members of the committee are Dr Daniel Chepsiror (Consultant Radiologist at MTRH) who will be the chairperson, Dr David Kiprop (Lecturer Kisii University), and Lucy Chepkwony, a community leader.
Others are Henry Ruto, KNUT chairperson , nandi Central/Chesumei as well as Karen Maritim, a senior nurse in Uasin Gishu County.
Meanwhile, to ensure uniterupted services during the probe period, the county boss has appointed individuals to serve in positions that have been left vacant, on an acting capacity.
Dr Philemon Bureti will serve as the acting Health and Sanitation County Executive while Caroline Lagat will act as the Health and Sanitation Chief Officer.
Further, Dr Richard Chepkwony has been appointed the acting Director of Medical Services as Dr Emmanuel Ruto has been named acting Medical Superitendent KCRH.
