Senator Omtatah demands Senate probe into Mbagathi Hospital mismanagement, unpaid medics, and exploited teachers in North Eastern

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has called on the Senate to urgently investigate failures in the health and education sectors, citing malpractice, mismanagement, and unfair treatment of workers.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Omtatah accused Mbagathi County Referral Hospital of misusing funds, mishandling its bill-waiver programme, and intimidating both patients and staff. He demanded clarity on the hospital’s last audit and safeguards for whistleblowers.

The senator also raised alarm over unpaid medical officers under the Global Fund TB programme, some of whom have worked for over 15 years but gone a year without pay. He criticised the Ministry of Health for cancelling internships for 306 nursing graduates, saying the decision was unlawful and worsened staff shortages.

On education, Omtatah pushed for investigations into grievances of over 300 contractual teachers in North Eastern Kenya, citing delayed salaries, lack of contracts, and stalled career growth. He urged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to absorb them into permanent positions.

“These matters cut across governance, accountability, and fairness in service delivery. The Senate must protect the rights of patients, health workers, and teachers who continue to serve under very difficult circumstances,” Omtatah said.

The issues have been referred to relevant Senate committees for further investigations.