Meru County Governor Peter Munya has said he is committed to working with all health workers despite a nationwide resistance that health services should not be devolved. Munya said the Constitution says healthcare should be devolved and urged health practitioners to join him and ask the national government to devolve more cash to counties.

"I would like you to join me in asking for more funds so that we can sit together and see how to pay you better," he added. He was speaking to medical staff when he received medical equipment donated to Meru Level Five Hospital by Lewa Wildlife conservancy yesterday. He said the national government expects the county government to pay more than Sh700 million to health staff with the current budget of about Sh400 million.

"The national government should look into the formula used to allocate revenue to counties afresh. In fact, 60 per cent should be handed to the county government as the rest remains at the national level," said Munya. He said with the current allocation, very little will be set aside for development since the wage bill is too high.

He said he was working to ensure all government health facilities in the region are adequately equipped to deal with ailments, adding that the health budget for the county stood at Sh563 million. He, however, called on the hospital management to work out internal mechanisms of ensuring effective utilisation of the revenue collected from the services they offer.

"The county is working out a bill to have a policy on management of hospitals and establishment of a health board that oversees the performance of all hospital management boards," said the governor. The health workers have been opposed to the intended devolution of their services to the counties and are instead demanding for the formation of a Health Service Commission.

Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) national secretary general Seth Panyako said they will withdraw their services on December 10 after unfruitful discussions with stakeholders including President Uhuru Kenyatta. Panyako says that even though the government appreciated the grievances raised by the union, no workable resolution was forthcoming.

"The President instead ordered a meeting of all stakeholders to iron out the matter in two weeks’ time, particularly the Public Service Board and the County Public Service Board, given that personnel must be seconded to the counties by the former with clear terms of service," he said. The discussions involved the Public Service Commission, Health Cabinet secretary, Governors’ Council, county public service boards, Senate and Parliament committees on Health and Trade unions among others.

Panyako, however, said he was not sure whether the two had even met, adding there were no supporting laws in place yet county governments were purporting to have laid hold of health personnel. "The health sector lacks a policy and Health Bill and Act that clearly define the development process," he said. Panyako said they are not opposed to devolution but wanted personnel emoluments remain with the national government. - KNA