Category: NEWS

Kapsabet County Referral and Nandi Hills County Hospitals will receive Ksh. 800 Million from the Central Government to expand and boost health services in Nandi, Deputy President William Rutto said.

Speaking in Kaptumo grounds at the official opening of an MTC in Aldai Constituency, Rutto said that Kapsabet county Referral Hospital is set to receive ksh.480 Million as Nandi Hills receives Kshs 320 M in what the DP says will decongest Nandi residents from travelling to MTRH in Eldoret for treatment.

Rutto however noted that the two health facilities will accommodate CT scan, MRI scan, Radiology, Cancer Centres, Dialysis and other emergency cases which would have been attended to at other National Hospitals.

He added that the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital will be upgraded to a level 5 hospital; which will offer medication to residents of Western Kenya from the neighbouring counties of Vihiga, Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia and Kisumu. He promised that the same counties will get their share from the National Government as well,”this will ensure that health in these Counties is boosted by the Central Government.’’ Rutto emphasised.

The Deputy President was accompanied by Kenya Medical Training Chairman Professor Philip Kaloki, KMTC National Director Peter Tum and other politicians including Nandi County Governor Dr Cleophas Lagat.

The governor on his part said that his government will work hand in hand with the National Government in ensuring that Nandi locals benefit from the two governments in terms of health services and in other sectors.

Dr Lagat urged Rutto to traverse across the country uniting all the tribes to be a Kenyan tribe of the same patriotism.

Nandi Deputy Governor Dominic Biwot said the county will gain massively from a partnership deal with Amethyst Technologies to put up a Sh250 million agricultural research Centre at Kaimosi.

He also revealed that the County had also signed sister-to-sister programmes with Maryland State, County partnership with Fredrick County and Bloomington City in Minnesota, which will partner with Kapsabet Town.

“Our partnership with Michigan was also reaffirmed. We have already received two box state-of-the-art mini-theatre ambulances from the State,” said Biwott .

Kapsabet –Nandi Water and Sanitation Company (KANAWASCO) has opened 2 sanitation facilities and 4 water kiosks at the County’s headquarters. The facilities were funded and implemented by Water Services trust Fund at a cost of K.shs 15,000,000. This is in a major drive to enhance cleanliness, put waterborne diseases at bay and improve the general environmental cleanliness.

Speaking during the event, Kanawasco CEO Mr. Peter Wawire said that the water will retail at Ksh 2  for a twenty litre jerrican. “This water is indeed the most affordable, accessible 24 hours a day and its cleanliness assured at all times” said Wawire.

He warned against rampant illegal connections and vandalism of water pipes saying that the company was incurring huge unnecessary losses and put the vandals on notice “dire consequences await those who will nabbed engaging on these vices” he warned.

Water services Trust Fund CEO Mr. Ishmail Fahmy Shaiye who graced the occasion praised the cordial relationship between Nandi County and the institution. He promised to up the partnership so as to enhance the provision of water across the county.

Nandi County governor Dr. Cleophas Lagat had in a fortnight ago led a county team to a Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony between the County and water Services Trust Fund team led by the Chairman Mr. Musikari Kombo at a Naivasha hotel.

Salaries and Remuneration Commission(SRC)  team is in Nandi County for 3 days to conduct  job evaluation exercise to determine the true worth of public service jobs.

Speaking during the launch of the exercise in a Kapsabet hotel, County Secretary  Mr. Francis  Ominde  said high number of disparities in the structure needs to be clarified especially on payments.  The County Governments have high number of staff from the defunct local authorities, staff from devolved sectors of health and agriculture, Sub County and ward administrators, political staff and the County assembly.” We wish to strictly follow the SRC policies and not to deviate” he said.

SRC Commissioner Isaiah Kubai insisted on the need to work closely with the stakeholders to achieve desired results in a transparent manner. “There should be no differences between the staff members and instead work in synergy to promote fairness, justice and equity in their work places” he added. The job Evaluation exercise will take place in all the 47 counties and seeks to provide a rationale for equitable remuneration.  The exercise will target service and regulatory state corporations, commercial state corporations, civil service and research institutions, public universities and tertiary institutions. On individual level, the job evaluation ensures that workers get paid a fair rate for the jobs they do while increasing their job satisfaction.

So far the team  has conducted the job evaluation  exercise in Mombasa, Siaya ,  Bungoma,  Uasin Gishu,  Murang’a  and  Kajiado .

Nandi County Government has noted with concern outright falsehoods and innuendo doing the rounds in various social media outlets. From the onset, it is good to state that Nandi County is
founded on the rule of law, guided by strict adherence to the constitution and operates on an open door policy for the good of all.

Several projects beneficial to residents are ongoing across the county ranging from continuous improvement of major roads, tarmacking of key urban roads, Construction of Kipchoge Keino and Nandi Hills stadiums, building of health facilities and stocking with adequate medical drugs, construction of ECDE classrooms and renovation of cattle dips among other major undertakings. The availability of eight medical ambulances has indeed taken the response to emergencies a
notch higher.
The department of Devolution and Special Programmers has just unveiled a Kapsabet People’s Park beautification exercise the entails among others a sanitation unit, water fountain, landscaping works,  grill fencing and finally cabro-paved walk-ways. All these cumulatively cost K.shs 3,300,000.  Any attempt to distort facts and portray activities of the county otherwise ought to be dismissed with the contempt it deserves.
Finally, it is worth noting that all tenders in the County are issued in strict observance of the Public Procurement and Disposal Act, 2005 and other related Acts.

Nandi County in collaboration with National Malaria Control Board started county wide distribution of over 500,000 mosquito nets to serve 185,000 households which were earlier registered to benefit from the same.
Speaking during the official opening of the exercise Chief Officer Health and Sanitation Dr. Edward Serem said the residents have already been sensitised on proper use of the nets. The County has 302 distribution points including health facilities where one net is supposed to be shared by 2 people.Chief Officer said that over 500, 000 nets are to be distributed to the 185,000 households. The exercise began 15^th and will end on 19^th.

The medical staff during the event demonstrated how the mosquito nets are used.

The members of the public immediately began receiving the mosquito nets at Kapsabet Referral Hospital and all the selected distributing stations across the entire County. The National Malaria Control Board has spent over 300 Million in purchasing the nets.

Kapsabet residents joined the police in destroying second generation brews in the town. Residents urned up in large numbers to support the exercise following the presidential directive, terming the action as timely and appropriate in ending the brewing menace that has claimed several lives and cut -short dreams of youths in the town. Business came to a stand still in the towns CBD as angry residents blocked the road during the exercise.Thousands of litres of the illicit brews were destroyed.The operation was led by Nandi Central

OCPD Joakim Mecha.

Nandi County Governor Dr. Cleophas Lagat has said that the County will soon have two medical training colleges in Mosoriot and Kaptumo from September this year. Students from all over the country who will be admitted to Kaptumo Medical Training College will go for their training sessions at Nandi Hills hospital while those admitted to Mosoriot will have their training sessions at Kapsabet Referral Hospital. H.E urged the leadership of the County to unite to enhance collective and efficient development through out the Nandi County jurisdiction
Present during the event was the Country Director of Medical Training College Mr. Tum, who on his hand emphasised on the need to see expansion of medical training colleges as per the MTC policy, he points out that this will see the children assess education and proper healthcare and consequently enhance their future empowerment

Chairman of MTC Prof. Kaloki was really greatful for what the County Government of Nandi is doing and promised to see that the County opens two medical colleges in the County.
The Area Member of Parliament Cornelly Serem thanked the Governor for the work he is doing as it is for the benefit of the community. He urged the ministry concerned to ensure there is enough personnel to handle patients in all health facilities. ‘’We condemn those who oppose to development’’ he added.
Also present were Director of Health Dr. Kemboi, Chief officer Mr. Serem among other county officials.

The cost of keeping a Member of Parliament rose to an average of Sh2 million per month beginning Wednesday (July 1). Budget documents show that the 349 MPs (National Assembly) will, in the fiscal year starting July 1, get paid an average of Sh1.99 million per month in salaries and reimbursements for costs incurred up from an average of Sh1.5 million this year. Each of the 67 senators is expected to take home similar amounts. The 416 legislators will earn the money in basic pay and personal allowances paid as part of the salary that adds up to about Sh1.387 million (combined average for MPs and senators). Each MP then earns an average of Sh509,214 per month in domestic travel and other transportation costs, taking the total to nearly Sh2 million. Travel costs are paid to the legislators as mileage claims for trips made to their constituencies. Budget documents for the past two years show that the cost of maintaining legislators rose by nearly Sh400,000 per MP per month. In the fiscal year ended June 2014, each of the MPs earned an average Sh1.59 million per month compared to the Sh1.98 million they will be paid in the next financial year — a Sh390,000 or a 24.5 per cent rise.