10 Machakos Inspectorate suspects released on bond

By Anchor Reporter

The 10 County Askaris held over the assault of a civic leader Boniface Maeke have been released.

They are to pay a cash bail of Kes 20,000 each or execute a bond of Kes 100,000.

This is as they await the outcome of police investigations into the incident that happened within the precincts of the Machakos Law Courts.

 Askaris pull off MCA's trousers

Senior Principal Magistrate Magistrate James Ombirah also ordered the suspects to appear in court on February 29 for mention of the case.

Notoriety: The cars that the askaris used to capture the MCA

 suspects were also ordered to report to the Machakos Police Station on today to resume interrogation in the case where the MCA was stripped of his trousers and violently robbed of cash and a mobile phone.

Top health officials moved amid deep rot, drama in L5 hospital

Understanding the drift
facing all public hospitals

By Martin Masai,

Editor/ Publisher

It is now emerging that the rot at Machakos Level 5 hospital is deeper than earlier thought as the Machakos County Government puts up a grand cover-up show.

Dirty linen at the hospital

As we went to press, The Anchor can confirm from multiple sources that the Hospital's Medical Superintendent Dr Benjamin Nzomo was demoted and transferred as an ordinary medical officer in Kathiani Hospital after he wrote a two page unflattering letter that concluded that the hospital services were collapsing. 

He listed the theatre and ICU as having stopped operations due to continuously running out of critical consumables. 

His replacement is yet to be found as prospective candidates are unwilling to jump into the raging inferno at the hospital where survival is based on see no evil, say no evil policy. 

Letter from Dr Nzomo

Yet, County Health Minister Daniel Yumbya claims that all is well at the hospital and has refused to respond to documentary evidence from disgruntled officials. Yumbya went ahead to deny knowledge of the letter in a radio interview on Mbaitu FM this morning and flatly refused to acknowledge that there was any problem at the hospital or that anyone had been demoted due to the letter.

It leaves no doubt therefore that either the government of Governor Wavinya is under some sort of capture that is making it difficult to act and change the state of healthcare in the county's biggest hospital. This is as reports emerge that other hospitals in the sub-counties are facing the same administrative malaise and nothing is being done given the level and tenacity of denial by Wavinya's Chief Health Adviser- Dr. Daniel Munyao Yumbya, a holder of a honorary PhD degree.

Others removed and demoted are Halima Adan, who was Director of Nursing, who was posted to Matuu Hospital to serve as a nursing officer. Her deputy- Faith Mutisya, will succeed her.

Director of Public Health - Dr Kimuyu was demoted and sent to Kathiiani as an ordinary doctor. He was replaced by a nurse- Anne Wanyaga.

Mr. John Nyamboga is the new director of Programmes and Partnerships, taking over from Dr Muthama, who was demoted and sent to Athi River as a medical officer. 

No official posting order was published, but the affected officials were given the marching orders individually. 

The new directors have been picked from unions of health officials after a night meeting with nurses at White House last Wednesday.

Multiple sources say the transfers were effected without involvement of  Dr.Yumbya, an indication of a power struggle between Dr Yumbya on the one hand, and union chiefs led by Mr. Mike Saka, Medical Services Chief Officer Dr Miyenda-  the personal doctor of the governor whom she hand picked from Mater Hospital and a powerful unseen hand that manipulates hospital procurement to stock-out levels, on the other.

The multiple sources say the situation is so pathetic that a consultant medic once told a formal meeting that patients who get admitted to the medical wards face 40 per cent probability of dying.

" Doctors sending patients for lab tests wait in vain, or weeks if they are lucky for results to be provided," said a doctor who prefers to remain unnamed. 

The sources say that though the hospital may have working equipment, it is the consumables for use for clinical investigation, radiology, surgery, ICU, and maternity. 

" Patients at the wards can wait for weeks before drugs come around. They parade empty cartons to flatly lie that there are drugs on the store, the sources say, adding that that is the same trick used when the governor came calling last Friday.

Governor Wavinya  had a rude shock herself when she was given a prescription for three drugs at the labour ward only to find them to be out of stock at the pharmacy. 

The county owes Kenya Medical Supplies Kes 137m and was last supplied in December 2023.

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Services in Machakos Hospital go into a coma amid drama,denials

By Martin Masai

Services at Machakos Level 5 hospital are gradually collapsing even as Governor Wavinya Ndeti stormed the hospital for a unspecified mission.

Notwithstanding , Health Minister Daniel Yumbya and Gov. Wavinya today called a Media conference to deny that the hospital was crumbling. They made no reference of a self explanatory letter from the medical Superintendent that gives a user inside view of the state of the hospital. 

Incognito: A camouflaged Gvn Ndeti tours Machakos L5 facility

The situation at the facility is best stated by the outgoing Medical Superintendent Dr Benjamin Nzomo, who has reportedly been not only transferred but also demoted after detailing the pathetic status in a letter dated January 25,2024.

Dirty linen at the laundry 

The letter to the Director of Medical Services is aptly tited : " Hospital in crisis due to lack of commodities". Highlighting the communication as of 'outmost urgency and importance, Dr Nzomo lists four reasons as the contributor of the crisis: - Inconsistent,untimely and inadequate supplies of health products and supplies needed.

"Among the sizeable number of major challenges in the delivery of health services in Machakos Level 5 hospital is the inconsistent, untimely and inadequate supply of health products and supplies needed in the facility. This has been the case for the big chunk of last calendar year except on short spells when KEMSA or MEDS supplies land"

He contnued "The magnitude of the crisis at hand is as follows:

ICU: We have interrupted services here and cannot admit patients due to complete stock outs of critical items such as HME and bacterial filters, catheter mounts, perfusor lines, breathing circuits etc

Radiology: There is very little service delivery here as there are no ultrasound gel and thermal paper, contrast for CT Scan and films for x-ray and CT Scans.

Food & Ratios: The framework supplier is adamant not to provide additional ratios for dry foods and vegetables henceforth owing to delayed payment since September, 2023.

No food stuff for patients as from tomorrow 26th January, 2024 and patients risk missing meals.

Theatres: services are bound to be interrupted from today due to absence of many items including, X-ray gauze, haemostat spones, HME’S for pediatric and adults, sutures etc.

Additionally, general anaethesia agents such atracurium, suxamethonium, nitrous oxide are lacking.

Wards: Nasal progs, non-rebreather masks, infusion sets, catheter, strapping etc are basic suppliers that are unfortunately out of stock.

Renal Centre: Many challenges abound here including unserviced machines, lack of concentrate, bicarbonate etc

Oncology Department: For sometimes the staff here have been exposed to toxic oncology drugs as there is no N-95 masks in stock.

The Hospital Management Team (HMT) sitting bon 17/1/2024 rated the current performance of the facility at a mere 10% (Minutes of the meeting attached), mostly occasioned by these frequent stock-outs for commodities and the demotivation of the staff as a consequence. Watching this deterioration in the level of services and care is not only hear-breaking but also tantamount to tolerating it.

Kindly note that we have in the past and even currently continue to develop and timely transmit requisitions to the relevant offices to facilitate supply but nothing is forth-coming. 

 We are left to engage loyal local suppliers for limited supplies to continue running the hospital but this option is no longer feasible as we have accumulated substantial credit with them.

This is to let you know the facility is at critical point as departments are slowly closing down due to commodity shortages. This is a clear sign of an impending collapse!" ,the Medsup concluded. 

The letter is copied to

CECM –HEALTH Dr Daniel Yumbya and the Chief Officer-Medical Services- Dr Miyenda.

Wavinya's askaris ordered detained for five days

Ten bulky county askaris who manhandled an MCA will remain in detention for five days.

Machakos Principal Magistrate Mary Otindo declined a request from crime busters to hold them for 14 days. 

Principal Magistrate Mary Otindo 

The second respondent- Joshua Mutiso is a brother of the driver of Governor Wavinya Ndeti's lead escorted car and was recently conscripted to the enforcement unit.

The officers working under the inspectorate department were  arraigned in court over the incident where the Kalama MCA Boniface Maeke was left injured after an ugly confrontation with the said officers.

 The askaris did not take plea after the prosecution requested for 14 days to complete investigations.

The 10 officers will be charged with robbery with violence,assault and causing disturbance within the court premises.

The court ordered their detention at the  Machakos Police Station,waiting determination of whether they will be detained for the 14 days the prosecution side requested for or they will be released on bond a ruling that is expected to be made on Friday at 9.00 am.

Today's application was based on an affidavit sworn by DCI officer Nancy Muturia which The Anchor publishes in full in this article. 

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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

Scott University closed down

Scott Christian University has been closed down indefinitely. 

Students of Scott University picket at the main entrance 

The closure follows a stalemate over low salaries and accumulated arrears. This disagreement came to a peak on January 23, 2024 when staff commenced a work boycott. 

A memo sent out yesterday by Vice Chancellor Prof Morompi Ole Ronkei announcing the closure gave students till 3pm today to vacate University premises. Police fired tear gas at students in response to stones hurled at them as the students left the university.

Said the Professor "Following the staff work boycott since 23rd January, 2024 and their unanimous decision of not going 

back to work until all their salary and arrears are paid in full, that have led to disruption of lectures 

and paralyzed all activities at the University, the university Council sitting on 27th January, 2024 has 

resolved to close the University until further notice.In view of the foregoing, all students are required to vacate the University premises by latest Monday, 29th January, 2024 at 3pm."

However the Scott University Students Council disagreed with the closure and called for a demonstration, saying that they had nothing to do with the salary dispute. 

Tension soon rocked the university when contingents of anti riot police begun patrols as the students held meeting to discuss the closure. By 3 pm, students started streaming out of residential halls on their way out.

Gov.Ndeti loyalists take charge in top 40 revenue collection points

Governor Wavinya Ndeti has completed a purge in the most lucrative revenue collection points of Machakos County.

 Governor Wavinya Ndeti 

With the recent mass transfers for Machakos Revenue officers, Wavinya's supporters who are newly employed are firmly collecting cess in Mavoko's nearly 40 cess collection  points.

An investigation by The Anchor reveals that 10 old guard staff who had served in the cess points have been deployed to other  locations to serve in the same capacity. 

The purge has left county staff clearly split in the middle- the Old Guard- comprising of pre devolution staff and those hired under Governor Alfred Mutua  on the one hand, and new staff recruited under Governor Wavinya- on the other.

In effect, over 160 of the 435 newly recruited staff believed, to be Wavinya's ultra hot loyalists  were moved to the cess points that collect tax from Mavoko's massive quarries. The rest, both teenagers and retirees, are scattered across the county.

Hundreds of lorries ferry cut stones, ballast, hardcore,quarry dust, and other stone products to building sites in surrounding parts of Mavoko,including Nairobi. 

Most of the new staff are yet to obtain personal numbers to enable them sit squarely within the County Public Service Board. 

The investigation found that the staff have been issued with staff badges for ease of identification. Each of the cess points is managed by 2 -4 staff to minimise collusion in revenue collection.

Preliminary indications show that revenue has since improved by nearly 50 percent. 

" Each cess point is collecting over Kes 500,000 daily," a source conversant with the revenue collation in Mavoko said, indicating that quarries are bringing in Kes 20m daily- a confirmation that they are the county's cash cow.

A source told The Anchor that revenues from the quarries are the main trigger of the mass transfers and have been abused in the current and past county governments. 

This marks a huge jump in revenue as a result of the mass transfers ordered by Finance Minister Muia Kuyu.

63 schools get food aid

By Dennis Mwikya

63 primary schools in Machakos Town Constituency have this week benefited from relief food from the national government.

Mr Mule when he delivered food

Miwongoni primary school 

The Cosmopolitan Constituency had recieved 400 bags of Rice and 160 bags of Beans.

The food was delivered through the area  Member of Parliament Mr Caleb Mule. Speaking during the distribution exercise at Keaa Primary school in Mutituni/Ngelani ward, Mr  Mule said the move was aimed at reducing the high rate of student inconsistency in attending classes due to poverty levels.

"Learners have been suffering at home,some come to school even without meals,last time we distributed the food we received to vulnerable people,this time round we decided to feed our primary school learners across the Constituency " , he said.

Mule said an analysis conducted showed that providing the learners with free lunch, would lead to sustainable learning and improved performance.

"We will support them, to ensure they have lunch and when they return home in the evening, they may be able to help their parents, we want to ease the burden for parents, so that they send those students to school,” added Caleb

Parents commended the initiative which they said will sustain learners in school since meals are provided.

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 launch 

Dubbed 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.

 

 

Buglers raid county hospital again!

By Anchor Reporter

Burglars have once again returned to Machakos Hospital less than a month after stealing 14 computers at the County Lands and Energy headquarters

The incident at the hospital underlines  suspicions that the buglers are county government insiders.

Suspected burgler's Image captured on CCTV 

Dr Daniel Yumbya

 Police say the thieves only broke a padlock latch and then opened the door using a key.

It is the same style used as they accessed the Lands offices at an unknown day and time between December 22 and 26, 2023.

The offices was found open on December 27 when the theft was discovered. No door was broken to gain access to the offices located between the Machakos County Commissioner's office, Machakos Deputy County Commissioner's office, and  the Machakos National Intelligence Service offices 

 No recovery or arrests have been made in the hospital incident, and police suspect that the thieves were targeting important procurement data stored in the computers. 

The incident occurred on Thursday, January 18, in darkness. 

As is usual with buglaries in county offices, the thieves use duplicate or master keys to enter their targetted areas. This time round,they opened hospital’s chest clinic and a room known as Room 4 that is used by the clinic's nurses.

Police say the thieves carted away the  three desktop computers from the chest clinic and also took a desktop computer from Room 4.

Investigators are piecing together their findings to compare them with other findings from buglaries in other county offices.

" They want to understand if it is one gang of buglers or if they are separate gangs competing to steal desktops from county offices.

However police seem convinced that the buglars are targeting data stored in the machines that have the potential to incriminate some officials.

Curiously, no arrests have been made , nor has there been

recovery of the vital public assets.

Machakos County offices are rarely guarded as happens with offices of the central government where armed APs are routinely deployed when offices close.

The county administration occasionally post County Askaris, whose training revolves around enforcement of by- laws rather than crime detection and deterrence.

It is the second burglary to be reported at the hospital as many months after thieves broke into the office of the Health Minister Daniel Yumbya.

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.

It is the aftermath of a week-long altercation with Machakos Wiper Governor Wavinya Ndeti,whose allergy for criticism is worryingly growing. 

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.

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Do MCAs trade without paying fees and licences?

Events unfolding in the past week in the County Government of Machakos are sending worrying signals to residents.

What begun as a question on use of millions of money in the rehabilitation of dams and the selection of contractors has mutated into despicable sideshows.

Rather than respond to querries on how much was used on the dams, the contractors deployed and the process used, governor Wavinya Ndeti responded angrily be stating that she will not be intimidated by anyone and added that her critics were cry babies who missed out on the contracts.

While it is true that Francis Ngunga, the MCA for Mua Ward is a contractor who previously executed contracts under Governor Alfred Mutua's administration, it has not been confirmed that he bid and missed tenders under Wavinya.

Be that as it may, there is a growing din of relentless questioning on the rehabilitation of approximately 80 dams that are alleged to have been done by contractors of Somali extraction, carrying out questionable works and being paid promptly and handsomely. It is alleged that the tenders are dispensed with between Finance Minister Muia Kuyu, Director of Procurement Mr Kekee Mathuki and a behind- the- shadows young man who works without an official title but has warm space in the inner sanctum of the Office of the Governor.

The Anchor has put the question to the Governor's Chief of Staff and no answers have been provided. Sample the question: " To debunk lies, propaganda or misinformation, can the Machakos County Government publish a list of all dams done under Gvn Ndeti, complete with name, address of contractors, amount used and current status?"

Wavinya herself has been reported as questioning why dams are being rehabilitated or constructed to the tune of Kes 40m.

Besides, the national procurement authority has entered the fray to probe the procurement of the 80 dams that cost over Kes 300 million- and therefore it is not a matter.

 Wavinya will brush aside easily.

While Ngunga's may have been a legitimate concern, it could also be that he was speaking over sore grapes🍇.

But what is callous to the extreme is the deployment of a battery of officials from the Works, revenue, public health, Liqour,water, trade and physical planning- escorted by a formation of County Enforcement Askaris to frisk Ngunga's businesses to establish whether he pays County dues.

The raid came at a time no single business in the County has a 2024 authorization to trade by way of required licensing. Indeed all traders are currently preparing to pay up. Those selling liquor like Ngunga have upto January 22 to have inspections done ahead of licensing. 

It is instructive that the raid or inspection was as selective as it was targeted to only one person; Francis Ngunga. No other business premises was 'inspected' that day. At the school, the Askaris reportedly whisked away a teacher, setting an unprecedented intervention in the education sector.

The Anchor was unable to establish if the two premises had licences for 2023. Some county sources say Ngunga had licences for 2023 while others say he did not show them any. The two positions cannot be true at the same time.  This shows that the county staff is so immersed in politics that the truth may remain obfuscated.

Nevertheless, Ngunga was hauled to the County Court to answer charges of trading without a licence. 

It is the newest turmoil after a chaotic  shake-up of the Revenue department that has seen revenue uncollected as staff struggle to report to new stations.

The raid on Ngunga has not settled quite well with some elected leaders in the County who see themselves as the next targets should they raise fingers against Wavinya.

It could also be a pointer to the question whether MCAs pay licences and fees that they pass in the County Assembly to be paid by their voters. 

What is alarming is the decision to deploy the county Askaris to raid a critic's business. Is the unit serving in the county's best intrest or has become a personal militia? Who deployed the team?

 All blame appears to be directed to the Machakos County Chief of Staff Lawrence Ngovi.

Ngunga accused the COS of witch hunt, an allegation that Ngovi instantly the rubbished, terming Ngunga's utterances as mere noise,maintaing that he has nothing to do with the on going public health and revenue department crackdown.

Even then,Ngovi went ahead to rub in that all the stipulated guidelines for business primises should be met and people should stop politicising issues especially when they are on the wrong side of the law.

He maintained that no one is above the law and those raids are regular exercises that are done to make sure that all business entities in the County have adhered to the set guidelines and standards.