A fierce disagreement broke out between Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o of Kisumu, Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Davji Atella, and Igambang’ombe MP Patrick Munene during a televised discussion on the evening of Monday, April 17, concerning the state of healthcare in Kisumu County.
The debate, hosted by Trevor Ombija on Citizen TV, revolved around the allocation of healthcare funding as Kisumu County and other devolved units struggle with financial shortfalls while awaiting disbursement from the central government. Atella and Munene criticized the county governments for not prioritizing healthcare in their budget allocations despite receiving revenue from local sources. In response, Governor Nyong’o argued that responsibility for financing healthcare in the counties ultimately falls on the national government, regardless of locally collected revenues.
Tempers flared during the conversation, with Governor Nyong’o becoming visibly agitated as he defended his position. The discussion highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by counties in Kenya as they navigate the complexities of healthcare funding and the role of both local and national governments in supporting the sector.