Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo has petitioned the Senate to probe into the county government’s alleged leasing of some of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds at Isiolo Referral Hospital for Coronavirus fight from a private facility.
The ICU has bed capacity of six patients and is supported by seven-bed capacity high dependency unit.
The legislator in the petition asked the Parliament to establish the legitimacy in how the beds and the support equipment launched on April 12 were procured.
The photos that were in past two weeks circulating online showed a pickup being loaded with equipment outside the private hospital in Isiolo town and same vehicle at the referral hospital gate.
Officials of a lobby Isiolo Human Rights Defenders, who were the first to share the pictures online demanding explanations on what was being transported in the vehicle have on some occasions been interrogated by the security team, the Press Point has learnt.
The activists recently cried foul over alleged intimidations from the county officials days after Governor Mohamed Kuti ordered their probe for reportedly being used by his political foes to ‘tarnish his government’s image’.
“We want positive activism and not politicizing the Covid-19 fight just because you are receiving handouts from politicians in Nairobi who cannot come to help our people… We bought all the ICU beds from Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies and have all documentation,” Governor Kuti recently said.
The Senate Deputy Majority Leader also wants the Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights to investigate supposedly use of security agencies by the county government to intimidate the activists who circulated photos of the ICU beds online.
“The committee should establish the legitimacy of the alleged ICU beds launch…,” the petition reads in part.
Senate Deputy Speaker and Tharaka-Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki tasked the Health Committee to look into the claims.
The lawmaker also wants an inquiry into how the Sh40 million set aside by the Mohamed Kuti led government has been used and the findings made public.
“The committee should indicate the measures it intends to take to enforce transparency and accountability measures in the counties with regards to Coronavirus response,” Ms Dullo appealed before the House on May 12, 2020.
Governor Kuti recently told off leaders who he said never appreciate the good work being done by his government but continue to seek cheap popularity at a time when residents reel from effects of the fast spreading deadly virus.
“We should at a time like now be united as leaders and when time for politics comes, we will battle it out and let the Mwananchi decide for themselves. But this politicking is not helping our people,” the county boss said.
