Wednesday, 7 February 2024
10 Machakos Inspectorate suspects released on bond
Sunday, 4 February 2024
Top health officials moved amid deep rot, drama in L5 hospital
Understanding the drift
facing all public hospitals
Dirty linen at the hospital |
Letter from Dr Nzomo |
Friday, 2 February 2024
Services in Machakos Hospital go into a coma amid drama,denials
Thursday, 1 February 2024
Wavinya's askaris ordered detained for five days
Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Panic in county Government as Level 5 ICU,Theatre shut down
By Martin Masai
CRITICAL units of the Machakos Referral Hospitals have closed down in a dramatic sign of things gone wrong in health provision under Governor Wavinya Ndeti.
Gov Wavinya and Mr Kuyu
The latest to close down is the theatre- where the Head of the General Surgery Dr George Orerah announced disruption of daily theatre operations until Governor Wavinya's government provides basic theatre supplies.
It comes as reports emerged that the hospital mortuary has closed down,coupled with the collapse of a unit that washes hospital linen and theatre stuff.
The closure comes a week after the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital shut down due to shortage of critical care supplies.
The basic supplies include gloves, sterile drapes, sterile gauzes and Sutures. Dr Orerah, in a memo to all departments of the hospital headlined " Frequent Disruptions of Essential Theatre Supplies" said that theatre elective lists will be cancelled every 9am " should the essential theatre supplies not be available"
He said patients will not be requested to purchase their own supplies outside the hospital because the facility is routinely expected to provide the basiscs then bill patients when they are being discharged.
The memo is copied to the Medical Superintendent - Dr. Nzomo, notwithstanding swirling reports that he has been demoted, and the Head of Clinical Services. It is dated January 29,2024.
The ICU closure was announced on January 24,2024 in a memo from Consultant Anaesthologist Dr Veronica Mutinda, addressed to the Medical Superintendent Dr Nzomo.
Dr Mutinda announced the interruption of services at the critical life support unit adding that they are unable to offer critical services in the ICU. The letter arrived at Dr Nzomo's Desk, prompting him to remark " Very unfortunate, to escalate it to Director of Medical Services and CO - Medical Services Dr Miyenda.
Reports also emerged of frosty relations between hospital top brass, ministry Chief Officers and the political establishment who are working at daggers-drawn, whose result is a collapsing health sector.
Dr Mutinda said there was a complete stock out of Breathing Circuits, items for Blood Gas Analysis, Perfusor Lines, Catheter mounts, Bacterial Filters for Ventilators and HME and Bacterial Filters.
So what is the trouble at Machakos Referal Hospital?
Health CECM Dr Daniel Yumbya declined to comment and promised to issue a comprehensive statement on Friday.
A source told The Anchor that problems are coming from the Government structure set up by Governor Ndeti that has ensured a centralised procurement for all government services.
It transpires that the Minister for Finance- Muia Kuyu calls all government departments to inquire about their procurement needs- then he starts processes that never seem to end- leading to delays in purchase of critical supplies.
More to follow....
Email: theanchoreditor@gmail.com
Monday, 29 January 2024
Scott University closed down
Saturday, 27 January 2024
Gov.Ndeti loyalists take charge in top 40 revenue collection points
Thursday, 25 January 2024
63 schools get food aid
Wednesday, 24 January 2024
Questions over Ndeti's ECD Milk
What was launched last week as a great milestone for Machakos County may well become the newest White Elephant in the Wavinya Ndeti government.
Gov. Wavinya during the launchDubbed a unique program- ‘Maziwa ya Mama’, Feeding the Future, the surely
one-of-a-kind project aims to
feed, energize and enhance the health of children as they pursue
education in all 63 ECDE Centres in
Machakos County.
As she launched the project at
Mavoko, Wavinya likened it to the Maziwa
ya Nyayo, a Moi era milk plan that not only served to retain children in
school, but also prevented malnutrition among children especially those from
Arid and semi-arid regions.
Governor Wavinya claimed the programme would boost the earnings of dairy
farmers who, she further alleged, will supply the milk and live up to her
campaign mantra of 'Chakula Mezani,
Pesa Mfukoni'. No single farmer has been contracted to provide even a liter
of milk.
As we went to press, teachers
were in Mumbuni Location were being urged to collect milk supply from Manza
Primary School, meaning that transport to the schools will not be forthcoming.
She further said the project
would provide business opportunities to
investors in the transport
sector as they will get a chance to deliver milk across the County.
However, questions are
lingering over the total budget for the ECD milk project, the source of both
the money and the milk. Even as she launched the project to cheering officials
and children at Kyemutheke Polytechnic, details as to the scope, funding, sustainability,
procurement, packaging and farmer’s involvement were scanty.
Not even an invitation to
Wavinya’s Chief of Staff Lawrence Ngovi to shed light on the matter has helped
lift the lid on the project. This was the request for information “ Hello, COS.
Please let me know the total budget for the ECD milk programme, the number of
ECDs, and the source of the milk. Please also indicate who is packaging the
milk, the cost, and the duration of the programme.
You may add any other relevant
information that the county government of Machakos would want to share
about the project. The Anchor will update when a response is provided.
Observers fear that the ECD
Milk project may go the same way as the ECD Feeding Programme that Wavinya
launched last year. It ended before most schools could get one day’s supply of
food.
The Governor, a beneficiary of
the Moi plan said the generation that benefitted from the Maziwa Ya Nyayo scheme today forms a
bigger part of the present-day leaders and taxpayers in Kenya. “It is now time
to join hands and give back to the society. What a better way to do that than
to give our children the milk…”
Ladies
and Gentlemen,
Wavinya said the programme is
expected to increase enrollment, boost
nutrition among our children as well as improve their health and general
wellbeing.
The governor said the milk will be delivered weekly to all
schools at no cost to the
parents and urged the teachers and other caregivers to keep off the milk and
ensure proper storage to avoid
contamination.
Monday, 22 January 2024
Buglers raid county hospital again!
Tuesday, 16 January 2024
Wavinya Vs Ngunga tussle plays out in court
Mua Ward MCA Francis Mwaniki Ngunga is arraigned in a machakos court for failing to pay his business licenses.
Ngunga's businesses were raided by a battalion of county officials from all departments and escorted by a detachment of the County Inspectorate Askaris days after demanding accountability in the use of Kes 300m in the rehabilitation/ construction of 80 dams. Ngunga is questioning why contracts for the dams were awarded to Somalis.
Ngunga has also alleged that the local public mortuary had been closed down due to poor management of county affairs.
Wavinya shot back claiming the civic leader, who is a contractor, was attempting to intimidate her into offering him some contracts to buy his silence.
These claims have been raised by othe local leaders as well as civil society and local activists and the government has not offered a solid response.
The raid on the businesses only targeted Ngunga's two hotels and a private school, underlining that the alleged inspection was selective and targeted.
Ngunga appeared before Machakos Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi and pleaded not guilty to all the three counts.
In the first count the law maker was charged with conducting school business with no permit.,a count that he pleaded not guilty and was released on 10,000 cash bail.
On the second and third counts, Ngunga was charged with operating two bars without permits.
He was admitted to Kes 10,000 cash bail on the first count and Kes 15,000 cash bail on the second and third counts.
Three of his employess were also arraigned in the same court failing to obtain food handling certificates and were released on a Kes 10,000 cash bail each.
Stay Anchored!
Saturday, 13 January 2024
Do MCAs trade without paying fees and licences?
Wednesday, 10 January 2024
Stand-off as quarry revenue officers defy transfer order
KCSE 2023 results: Makueni schools dwarf Machakos
By Daniel Kituku
Makueni and Kitui counties registered major improvement in the 2023 KCSE, pushing back giant Machakos.
Mbooni Girls Pricipal Agnes Ithiga
Makueni schools secured 12 slots in among top 30 schools in Lower Eastern region and hit the highest means score, followed by Kitui schools.
One spectacular performance was posted by AIC Sombe girls that will send all the 2023 candidates to the universities after attaining a 100 percent transition, though no student got the coveted A or A- grade.
Regional giant, Machakos School sunk further in ranking as shown in the listing in this article.
Mbooni Girls High school led the giants by registering a meanscore of 9.53 an improvement of 0.611 followed by Makueni Boys High School with 8.37 an improvement of 0.547.
Precious blood kilingu was third position with.7.9 followed by St Peter's Claver Kithuki at 7.846.
Other schools that registered good results are , Kyang'ondu Mixed Day Secondary school 7.8, Kitondo boys High School 7.7, Makueni Girls 7.5, Mbooni Boys High School 7.5 , Kaumoni boys High School 7.4, St Alphonza Kisau Girls high school 7.4 , St Martin Kathonzweni boys High school 7.4 .
Mbooni Girls scored 14 A constant, 68 A- , 78 B+, 54 B, 41 B-, 17C+ , 9 C and C- 1.
Mbooni Girls Pricipal Agnes Ithiga said dedication, hard work and discipline is the key to success .
She thanked teachers, pupils and the entire school staff for the commitment and cooperation in the school creating a good environment for learning.
Makueni boys scored 14 A constant, 67 A- , B+ 79, B 64, B- 67 and C+ 53.
Makueni Boys Pricipal Francis Mutua said unity , cooperation, hard work and students discipline led to the good performance.
Ends
Tuesday, 9 January 2024
County halts illegal works. on multi million property
The government of Machakos County has halted the restructuring of a multi million property in the heart of the town that belongs to the Islamic Foundation.
The county's Deparment of planning, using the approval of an official named Mr Thomas Muthenya, who signed as Assistant Director of Physical Planning. The foundation paid Kes 4,000 after claiming it was renovating the building.
But upon inspection, it was discovered that the plan was to reconstruct the existing structure to create scores of shops and stalls that open up to all the streets and allays surrounding the building. Approximately 22 shops are expected to open to businesses.
Yesterday, The Anchor established that the Chief Officer for Enforcement Col Mbithi Wathi had to put his foot on the ground to stop corruption cartels in the town from defrauding the county authority in fees that developers ought to pay.
Our investigations show that the developer paid a paltry Kes 1,500 to cover application and Kes 2,500 for approval fees for renovations and fixing of 1 door.
But by the time an inspection was ordered, five doors and an entire wall had been partitioned, creating of shops facing Kiamba Mall with the open drainage separating the building from the road being partially covered.
No plan was submitted for approval that would indicate structural or engineering works to be done an neither had public health nor fire/ emergency departments made submissions on the building.
Yesterday, the town's enforcement officers painted yellow crosses on the walls as all works were halted on the structure that previously hostrd
Saturday, 6 January 2024
Who has power to remove Chief Officers?
Chief Officer for Revenue Collection Mike Jace Senga remained in office defiantly as he launched damage control measures after unprecedented mass transfer of over 500 revenue officers across the county.
Mr Senga
The transfers were hatched by Finance Minister Muia Kuyu in an effort that has disrupted revenue collection since last Wednesday and is likely to linger into next week as officials settle in their new stations.
The aftermath of the movements show an illegal, misadvised bid to kick Mr. Senga out of office, yet it is only Governor Wavinya Ndeti who has powers to remove or transfer him. The County Assembly is the only other authority with powers to remove a Chief Officer by way of impeachment.
Senga was vetted with other 27 Chief Officers by the County Assembly, where his father sits as an MCA.
The law prescribes a process that can remove him from office for whatever reason and the Finance Executive Committee Member does not feature at all in the process, unless in a bid to usurpe the authority of the appointing authority.
Observers are, therefore, asking: What is going on in the County Government of Machakos? What is the struggle about? What and where is the trophy? Is there a power struggle among the men and women surrounding Governor Wavinya? Is she firmly in charge?
Yesterday The Anchor reached out to a confidant of Mr Senga, who quoted him as saying he was in the office to stay. He brushed off reports that he has been demoted and moved, insisting that he was there to stay and dismissed the same as rumour mongering with ill intent.
This comes even as he holds a letter that purported not just to transfer him but also demoted him to be a revenue collector at Itithini Market.
Worse still, the controversial letter had his name as the author but was signed for him by the officer with the authority to transfer revenue officers.
Questions are now flying as to the motive of Mr Kuyu to initiate the process to remove an officer he has no power to deploy. Did the governor know, let alone authorise the removal? Who is this who thinks he/she wields powers only vested in the Governor of Machakos County?
Even if that is the case, why was his replacement not named, given the sensitivity of the office and that of the Director of Revenue Collection, David Kakonzi, who was also given marching orders to Muthetheni
The Anchor monitored goings-on and now reports authoritatively that the two officials have remained collected and composed in their respective offices to resolve the crisis created by the transfers that have a hallmark of grand sabotage of Wavinya's revenue collection strategy to fund her Chakula Mezani, Pesa Mfukoni mantra.
Among the issues being raised are about officials who are simply unable to move now or in the future due to being hospitalised, family concerns, impending retirements,and sickness.
Others do not simply have the means to report to new stations because they have not been paid.
Questions are being raised as to why the transfers were not carried out in phases to minimise harm and disruption of collection of revenue.
In many of the actions, it shows the department does not know its staff component well to descern the usefulness of transferring an official now on terminal or prolonged sick leave to far flung areas of the county.
Friday, 5 January 2024
The 28 km nightmare of a road
By Johnbosco Muia
More than ten years down the line, the completion of the tarmarcking of the 28 kilometer Tala-Ol donyo Sabuk road in Mautngulu, Machakos county has remained a mirage
Road users have been delt a big blow especially during the rains when part of the road becomes impassable.
Several contractors who have been awarded the contract end up withdrawing without completing the project. It was supposed to last for less than three years when it began.
The Kenya Rural Roads Authority, which is handling the project, could not explain why the contractors had withdrawn without completing the work.
So far, about three quarters of the road has been done, with the remaining section being the worst for navigation, forcing drivers to divert to private land to proceed with their journey.
However, the completed sections of the road that have been poorly done are currently impassable due to potholes.
The remaining untarmacked eight kilometres strench to Oldonyo Sabuk market has been impassable, especially during rain seasons due to the deep trenches on section of the road.
On several occasions, national leaders who happened to tour the area for their political mileage have given hot air promises on the completion of the road.
Local residents have blamed local leaders and, in particular, area MP Stephen Mule for failing to put the right focus on the project by going it easy. This vital link of Ukambani to Central Kenya has a potential to change lives in the region, yet leaders continue to keep a low profile on matters related to the delay in the completion of the project.
"We know very well this project is under the docket of the national government, but surprisingly nothing is being done" said Mutisya Lole, a regular user of the road.
On frequent occasions, when asked about the project, the MP has always maintained to be on the top gear in pursuit of the road' completion.
Drivers using the road, including BodaBoda operators, have indicated to have incured huge losses in terms of tare and ware of their vehicles due to the extremely poor condition of the road in some sections.
"We wonder why it has taken so long to complete only a twenty-eight-kilometer road while in other regions much longer projects were done without any delay" says a resident of the area, Wayua Mutule.
The projection of the so-called "highway" according to locals is to connect Thika town with the rest of Kangundo/Tala and Machakos towns to enhance both commercial and industrial links between them.
Literally, the transportation sector in the route is expected to grow further with more public service vehicles increasing leading to lowering fares when the road is completed
The residents are demaning an explanation from the national government as to why they are subjected to this raw deal, yet they pay taxes as those from other areas.
If completed, the road will also connect Isiolo , Nyeri, Muranga and parts of Kiambu county with Machakos.
It is envisaged that businesses will grow and a new gateway to those travelling to Mombasa created.
Some matatu operators in the root complained that the delay in the completion of the road had stopped their desire to purchase modern vehicles which currently cannot operate in such poor condition road.
It is not known whether the national government will locate more funds to complete the remaing section of the road after the last contractor withdrew from the site mid-last year.
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