Machakos County is once again in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, with growing outrage over the state of its health facilities and the neglect of health workers.
Under Governor Wavinya Ndeti’s administration, the situation in the county’s health sector has deteriorated to alarming levels, drawing condemnation from the Senate Committee on Health.
The committee’s recent inspection visit laid bare a system struggling with unpaid workers, crumbling infrastructure, and lack of basic necessities such as clean water.
What was meant to be a routine oversight visit quickly turned into a distressing encounter with reality.
At both Athi River Level 4 and Mwala Level 4 hospitals, senators were confronted by a shocking revelation health workers have gone for up to six months without pay.
Some of them reportedly broke down in tears as they narrated their struggles to the committee. These are frontline staff who have continued serving patients despite the unbearable financial strain.
Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda questioned how a county government could allow such a situation to persist while operations continue as normal.
Her frustration echoed what many residents of Machakos have been feeling that the county leadership has failed to prioritize essential services.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka expressed concern that the delayed salaries could bring the entire health system to a halt. Without payment, staff morale drops, absenteeism rises, and patients suffer the consequences.
Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli also did not mince his words, insisting that the county government must be held accountable. He said it was unacceptable for Governor Wavinya Ndeti’s administration to watch as workers struggle to survive while services collapse under their watch.
Their sentiments captured the deep disappointment and anger that has been building among residents over how the once-promising county is being managed.
The committee’s findings also highlighted shocking neglect at Athi River Level 4 Hospital, where patients and medical staff are forced to operate without water.
Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu condemned the situation, saying it was a serious health hazard and a threat to patient safety. She demanded immediate intervention, warning that lack of water could lead to further outbreaks of diseases in an already strained system.
Nominated Senator Mariam Omar added that the county government has been focusing resources on referral hospitals while abandoning local facilities that serve the majority of residents.
The senators vowed to compile their findings and confront Governor Wavinya Ndeti with the evidence, urging her to take urgent corrective measures.
The situation in Machakos has become a reflection of poor planning and misplaced priorities. Health workers cannot continue to work under such harsh conditions while leaders remain detached from the suffering on the ground.
Residents expected better from the county government, but what they are witnessing instead is a crumbling system driven by neglect and lack of accountability. Governor Wavinya now faces mounting pressure to fix the crisis before the health sector in Machakos completely collapses.
