Police officers in Kitale are holding a consignment of drugs, believed to have been taken from a government hospital and dispatched at a private health facility in Kiminini Sub County. The plot was unravelled by suspecting residents, who saw an ambulance from the hospital offload cartons with medical drugs at the facility, prompting an exchange of words between residents and those offloading. The drugs had the Kitale Level Four hospital and GoK marks, and they may be sold to residents at exorbitant prices.
The person in charge of the facility was arrested together with the ambulance driver, and they were later released as investigations continue. Trans Nzoia County investigations officer Peter Kimilu confirmed the arrests, and that the drugs have been held by the authorities, “We were notified about the scam at the Cottage Hospital and rushed to the scene. Some individuals were arrested and were later released, however, the drugs are still held at Kitale Police station pending further investigations,” he said.
Following the arrests, human rights activist Kepha Were condemned the incident, claiming the drugs scams might be happening under the watch of certain individuals in the health sector. He urged locals to be vigilant against leaders in the health sector and to reveal any information so that culprits who are stealing drugs from hospitals are apprehended.
He urged the Governor to crack the whip on the officials who are culpable and restore sanity and order in the health sector. He further challenged the County Assembly Department of health under its chairman Daniel Kaburu to follow up the matter and tell residents what’s going on in the health sector.
Governor Khaemba and several MCAs have been complaining about drugs’ pilferage in the hospitals. Moreover, Health CEC Christine Tanguli has been transferred to the Lands docket and her position take up by Public Service CEC Claire Wanyama. Susan Murumba has moved from the Lands Ministry to Public Service.