File image of Benjamin Cheboi appearing before the Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee.
Baringo County Governor Benjamin Cheboi faced tough questions from the Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee on Friday, March 6, over the hiring of 730 casual health workers across county hospitals.
Cheboi appeared before the committee with members of his executive team to respond to concerns raised in the Auditor General’s report for the 2024/2025 financial year.
The hearing, chaired by Godfrey Osotsi, focused on the county’s human resource practices, highlighting the extensive use of short-term contracts for technical staff.
The audit report revealed that hundreds of health workers have been employed on renewable three-month contracts for years, with some serving in casual roles for up to ten years.
Osotsi criticized the practice, saying it contravenes the Employment Act and undermines workers’ job security.
"You cannot tell us you don’t have money to pay permanent nurses when you are paying the same nurses on three-month contracts for ten years. The money is going out regardless. The only thing you are saving is their pension and job security," he stated.
Cheboi admitted the county had relied heavily on casual staff due to financial pressure and a high wage bill but explained that Facility Improvement Funds helped keep hospitals operational.
He added that the county plans to regularize these employees through the Public Service Board while managing fiscal constraints.
The session also examined broader hospital issues, including equipment shortages and discrepancies between hospital classifications and actual services.
Senator George Mbugua expressed concern over Baringo County Referral Hospital, highlighting that its ICU reportedly has only one functional ventilator and maternity and eye care facilities are inadequately equipped.
Cheboi explained that placing expensive medical equipment in remote hospitals is challenging due to low patient traffic, making suppliers hesitant to invest. He urged cooperation between the county and national government to provide essential equipment where market logic fails.
Another issue discussed was the waiver of over Ksh2.2 million in hospital bills for patients not registered under the Social Health Authority (SHA), which senators said contravenes Social Health Insurance Regulations 2024.
Cheboi said many residents lack national identity documents, complicating SHA registration, and leaving the county to balance legal compliance with humanitarian needs.
The hearing follows revelations by the National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration, and Agriculture (PIC-SSAA) of widespread financial mismanagement at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB).
Issues included missing land title deeds, lost rental revenue, uninspected vehicle repairs, and regulatory weaknesses exposing patients to substandard medicines.
Cheboi defended the county’s efforts to improve health services but acknowledged challenges in financial management, equipment acquisition, and hospital staffing, emphasizing that reforms are ongoing to align services with national and legal standards.
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