Members of the Kiambu County Assembly led by the Deputy Speaker Hon. John Njiru visited their counterparts in Kirinyaga County on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. The purpose of the visit was to learn best legislative practices and share experiences.
Hon. Muteti Murimi, Speaker of the Kirinyaga County Assembly, welcomed the Kiambu delegation. He highlighted the Assembly’s achievements, noting that they had deliberated and passed 76 motions and 10 bills within two years.
The visiting delegation, led by Hon. Beth Chege, chairperson of the Kiambu County Assembly’s finance committee, commended Kirinyaga County. Ms. Chege noted that Kirinyaga was one of the top three counties in revenue collection during the last financial year, which is why they chose it for benchmarking.
A key area of interest for the Kiambu delegation was Kirinyaga County’s successful health administration system, which utilizes the Hospital Management Information System (HMIS). This system has the ability to:
Provide Real-Time Data: Unlike the past practice of waiting for facility managers’ reports, the HMIS provides real-time information on drug stocks. This enables timely replenishment of medicines, ensuring patients have access to the medication they need.
Support Data-Driven Decision Making: The HMIS collects valuable data that supports planning, budgeting, and service evaluation. This data-driven approach is crucial, especially when resources are limited.
Ensure Accountability and Security: Only trained staff with personal passwords can dispense drugs through the system. This restricts unauthorized access and safeguards medications.
This session on HMIS was led by Mr. Edward Nyaga, the finance and economic planning chief officer of Kirinyaga County.
In his closing remarks, Hon. John Njiru thanked the Kirinyaga Assembly leadership for their hospitality. He also invited his colleagues from Kirinyaga to return the visit to the Kiambu County Assembly in the spirit of sharing knowledge and experience.
