Trans Nzoia Governor Patrick Khaemba has said he will not sack nor reshuffle officers in the health department.
He said he will not yield to Nurses Union official’s pressure.
The union officials have been calling on him to either sack or transfer health CEC Christine Tanguli or Chief officer Charles Barasa saying they do not have a medical background.
Addressing the press in Kitale on Thursday, Governor Khaemba defended the two.
He directed his anger at five senior officials in the health department whom he said will be suspended over corruption.
Khaemba said those calling for Tanguli and Barasa’s removal from the department are doing so for political reasons.
The governor said until late last year, those who were at the helm of the Health sector had a medical background but the health sector performed dismally.
He said the call by the nurse’s is irrelevant.
Khaemba said the five officers he will suspend are suspected to have been involved in drug and linen theft.
“I don’t want to hear that nonsense that the CEC and the chief officer must have a medical background” Khaemba said.
The county chief said there are many top officials in the health department including the hospital superintendent who are medics and it is not necessarily that the CEC and her chief officer must be doctors.
“Within the hospital we had thieves, we have got a few and I am very annoyed that my staff has not expedited disciplinary action against them,” he said.
Patients within the county have been forced to seek treatment in private health facilities following a move by nurses in all public facilities to down their tools.
The nurses had last week called on the county government to meet their demands which included removal of the CEC and the Chief Officer, salary increment and addition of more staff.
“We have been on strike since Monday because the county government has denied us audience. They have not addressed the concerns we raised in the strike notice,” said KNUN Trans Nzoia secretary Willy Sifuna.
Sifuna challenged Khaemba to crack the whip by appointing new officials with a medical background- to take charge of the health docket to turn around what he said is an ailing sector.
He said Tanguli and Barasa have failed.