The Senate Committee on Health led by Senator David Wakoli (Bungoma) has revealed that delayed funding from the Social Health Authority (SHA) is severely hampering healthcare delivery in Kilifi County.

This follows an oversight visit to Mtwapa Health Centre Level 4 and Kilifi County Referral Hospital, during which the Committee expressed concerns over the SHA disbursement delays, stating they have impeded service delivery by leaving facilities unable to pay pending bills or meet critical operational needs.

“As the Senate, we will engage the Ministry of Health and SHA management to ensure that timely and consistent funding to the counties is prioritized,” Sen. Wakoli declared, highlighting the Committee’s intent to address the funding bottleneck directly with the responsible bodies.

The Committee also raised alarms about persistent human resource challenges, including a lack of senior medical personnel for leadership, undocumented staff absenteeism, the presence of expired medication, and weak leadership structures in health centers.

Wakoli further warned health officers who neglect their responsibilities that they risk facing severe repercussions as he emphasized the need for accountability.

“Health workers who neglect their responsibilities must face appropriate disciplinary action to safeguard the integrity of the healthcare system,” Wakoli warned.

The committee however commended recruitment efforts and other gains made by Kilifi County Government terming the deployment of over 209 health workers as “a job well done and a step in the right direction toward equitable healthcare for all residents.”

The Committee is now compiling a comprehensive report, including recommendations based on their findings at Mtwapa Health Centre and Kilifi County Referral Hospital, for tabling before the full Senate, with the SHA funding crisis expected to be a major focus for intervention.