The Mandera members of the county assembly (MCAs) are up in arms against the executive over what they described as unfair distribution of resources across the expansive county.
The MCAs accused the executive of marginalizing some communities while distributing resources .
They accused Governor Ali Roba’s administration of being unfair and favouring some communities and areas at the expense of others in terms of development.
The county lawmakers cited a report by the assembly’s Health Services committee tabled on Wednesday as proof to their allegations.
“The executive wing of the county government has the mandate to ensure equitable distribution of resources across the county but things are different in Mandera,” lamented Lafey MCA, Abdullahi Siyad Adan.
According to the MCA, the executive has concentrated on developing other areas of the county apart from Lafey and Banisa.
The report indicated health services in Mandera East, Mandera West and Mandera South had improved in the past five years but Banisa and Lafey recorded little improvement.
Mr Adan said as the people’s representatives, they will not hesitate in seeking alternative means of getting their share of devolution.
“The Constitution is clear on sharing resources but if the executive does not want to follow the law then we shall seek other alternative means,” he said without revealing what the other alternatives are.
His Arabia ward counterpart, Abdiaziz Dakat decried what he said is poor infrastructure in health facilities in Lafey and Banisa sub-counties.
“In Lafey, they use insecurity (as an excuse) to deny the locals services. What excuse can be used to deny those in Banisa their portion of devolution?” posed Mr Dakat.
The report tabled by Ashabito MCA, Shaban Hassan Hillow, who is also the Chairman of the Health Services Committee, showed that despite challenges, health services in Mandera have improved.
“Despite many challenges, there is improvement in health infrastructure, health workforce and service delivery across the county,” reads the report.
The report showed that all the sub-county hospitals lacked adequate clean water, kitchens were in deplorable conditions and most health records were yet to be automated.
“Most health infrastructures initiated by the county government were in deplorable state due to poor workmanship before they are even commissioned,” stated the report.
The committee reported that Banisa Sub-County Hospital had been abandoned by the executive and that it had no designated wards, meaning male and female patients shared the wards.
“The maternity ward at Banisa has no privacy in the ward, forcing mothers to give birth outside the hospital,” reads the report.
The committee itself could not visit Lafey Sub-County Hospital due to insecurity but met the hospital superintendent some 10 kilometres away from the hospital.
The superintendent informed them that the hospital only operated during the day and lacked an ambulance for emergency services.
The hospital lacked water supply in the laboratory, maternity wing and at the injection room.
Both Banisa and Lafey hospitals lacked theatre services despite Governor Roba announcing the construction of the operation facilities in 2015.
All the main hospitals in Mandera lacked blood banks and mortuaries, according to the report.
The multi-million accident and emergency facilities in Mandera and Elwak faced architectural challenges.
The committee recommended the construction of additional wards and additional bedding in the hospitals.
They called for the construction of isolation wards to handle outbreaks of cholera and other communicable diseases in the county.
However, the committee was impressed by the timely supply of drugs in the facilities in Mandera.
The department had a budget of Sh.2.5 billion in the 2018/2019 financial year.
By Dickson Githaiga
