The Murang’a County Assembly has given the county executive 60 days to address staffing and equipment shortages, resolve land ownership issues and upgrade Kangema Hospital to Level Four status.
The ultimatum follows the adoption of a report on the facility’s audit and financial statements, with MCAs calling for urgent action to close operational gaps and ensure the hospital meets the standards required to deliver quality healthcare.
Gaichanjiru Ward MCA John Munyua, who moved the motion for adoption of the report, raised concerns over inadequate personnel and medical equipment, arguing that the shortcomings were undermining the hospital’s ability to provide services expected of a Level Four facility.
Munyua called on the relevant county departments to fast-track the implementation of the committee’s recommendations, including deploying adequate health workers and providing the equipment needed to improve service delivery.
He also called for the transfer of the land on which the hospital stands to the county government within 60 days, saying formalising ownership would enable the administration to invest public resources in the facility without complications arising from land ownership.
Under the adopted recommendations, the hospital’s accounting officer is required to liaise with the County Public Service Board within 60 days to ensure staffing levels are harmonised in line with the Kenya Quality Model for Health policy guidelines.
The accounting officer was also directed to ensure the hospital’s registration is upgraded to Level Four with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council within the same period.
The measures are intended to align the facility’s staffing, equipment and official classification with the requirements for its intended level of operation.
Kahumbu Ward MCA Isaac Chefman Njoroge, who seconded the motion, stressed the need for consistency between a hospital’s official classification and the services it is equipped to provide.
“If it is Level Three, then it should be Level Three and meet the required standards. But if it is Level Four, then it must operate as a Level Four facility,” Njoroge said.
He emphasised that the classification should reflect the hospital’s actual capacity and compliance with the prescribed requirements, rather than merely its designation.
The Assembly called on the relevant county departments and committees to ensure all the recommendations are implemented within the stipulated 60 days.
The proposed improvements are expected to strengthen the hospital’s capacity, improve the availability of healthcare personnel and equipment and enhance access to quality medical services for residents of Kangema and neighbouring areas.
The county executive is expected to address the identified administrative and operational gaps within the deadline set by the Assembly.
By Bernard Munyao and Ann Kendi
