Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said the government will push ahead with the construction and upgrade of Kitale Level 5 Hospital in Trans Nzoia County despite opposition from Governor George Natembeya.
Murkomen defended President William Ruto’s decision to invest in the Sh1 billion health facility, claiming the governor is opposing a project intended to improve access to healthcare for residents.
Speaking during an ACK Church service in Kapsabet, Nandi county, Murkomen said the hospital was necessary given the state of healthcare facilities previously serving residents of Trans Nzoia.
“Mr President, you have constructed hospitals everywhere. There is a hospital in Kitale in Trans Nzoia, my home; what used to be there had been so pathetic,” Murkomen said.
The CS praised Ruto for deciding to establish the Level 5 facility, arguing that residents should not be denied improved healthcare services because of political disagreements between leaders.
“Despite the Governor of Trans Nzoia, George Natembeya, refusing a hospital, you have decided to build a Level 5 facility in the area to make sure the residents are served,” he said.
Murkomen thanked the President and governors who, he said, had supported development projects aimed at improving the welfare of citizens.
“I want to thank you, President, and those governors who have stood with the people,” he added.
The CS expressed shock at Natembeya’s reported opposition to the project, saying it was contradictory for leaders to oppose health infrastructure at a time when residents were demanding better medical services.
“I was so shocked to hear my governor in Trans Nzoia he will lead a demonstration to have the facility not be built there,” Murkomen said.
“People are begging for health facilities while others are saying they will protest.”
The dispute over the hospital has exposed growing tensions between the national government and the Trans Nzoia county administration over the implementation of development projects in devolved functions.
Natembeya has claimed Ruto is targeting him for speaking out on governance issues, arguing that the disagreement stems from what he considers a disregard for the Constitution and the responsibilities assigned to county governments.
The governor has maintained that health services fall under the mandate of county governments and has questioned the national government's approach to the planned hospital upgrade.
He has urged the President to respect the Constitution and allow governors to discharge their responsibilities under the devolved system of government.
Constitution says they should do,” Natembeya said.
The governor has also argued that the national government should consider investing in a university rather than undertaking projects he believes fall within the county government's mandate.
