Residents of Khalala village in Webuye West Sub County have accused the Sub County’s leadership of laxity, which has culminated to lack of electricity transmission in the area for the past one year, after a transformer that had been set up burnt down a few hours after installation.
Speaking to West Fm in his office, a clinical officer at Khalala dispensary Benjamin Wekesa said that the county government had already done electrical wiring in readiness for the power connection to the dispensary, and had already quipped the hospital laboratory, but lack of electricity to enable efficient running of these services has affected service delivery.
“We are unable to attend to the patients who need laboratory tests and services due to lack of power in our area, given that a new transformer has not been installed since the previous one burnt down a few hours after it had just been installed by the KPLC officers last year. Their promise to replace it still stands, but they haven’t shown up so far,” Mr. Wekesa said.
He said that most patients have to travel to Webuye Sub-County hospital or Bungoma county hospital to get services which would have been at their door step if there was power in Khalala dispensary and its environs.
“The Kenya power officers in Webuye have been very elusive, and have been making false promises for the last one year. The secondary schools around here, which have science and computer labs have also been affected,” said the Khalala clinical officer.
Wekesa has asked the leadership of Webuye Sub-County to intervene so that residents, especially the institutions within get power by replacing the transformer that burned down early last year.
He also challenged the leadership of Webuye West Sub-County to renovate the road from Webuye, through Milo towards Khalala to an all weather road, so as to allow patients who need further medication to Webuye or Bungoma to be easily transferred. The road is currently muddy and impassable especially when it rains.
His sentiments were echoed by the former councilor Honorable Erick Soita Patropa who said that much needs to be done on the road network within Sitikho ward and the larger Webuye West constituency to ensure that the residents access the main facilities.