This archive report was first published on 5 January 2022.
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has acknowledged the challenges his administration faces in delivering quality healthcare to the county's 1 million residents. Speaking during a cabinet reshuffle, Kahiga revealed that the health docket has been a 'hard nut to crack' despite being funded to the tune of Sh3 billion.
According to Kahiga, the health docket has been plagued by successive resignations, including that of Dr. Racheal Kamau, who headed the docket before being sent on a 45-day compulsory leave in October 2021. Dr. Kamau's replacement, Dr. Kwai Wanjaria, also resigned after serving for just 50 days.
As a result, the county's residents have been left to bear the brunt of the administration's struggles, with many complaining of a lack of essential drugs and poor diet in public hospitals. Despite these challenges, Kahiga insisted that his administration is committed to investing in healthcare, citing the Sh3 billion allocation for the health docket as evidence.
However, the governor's words have fallen on deaf ears, with many residents expressing frustration at the lack of progress in improving healthcare services. In a bid to address the issue, Kahiga has assigned the health docket to Robert Thuo, the current County Executive Member for Finance, on an acting capacity.
