Claims that patients were turned away from Kitui County Referral Hospital due to a shortage of medical supplies are false and misleading, county officials have declared.
Speaking to Channel 15 News, Aggrey Kamba, the Chief Officer in charge of Medical Supplies in Kitui County, dismissed the reports as “fake claims” designed to create unnecessary panic among residents.
Kamba confirmed that medical supplies worth KSh 4.2 million were delivered just yesterday, sourced through the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), and are fully stocked at the facility.
“There is no shortage of reagents or essential supplies at the hospital. The narrative being pushed is inaccurate and misleading,” Kamba said.
In a strong and direct warning, the Chief Officer further alleged that cartels operating within sections of the hospital system could be attempting to exploit the temporary technical downtime of the hematology analyzer to misinform patients and redirect them to private facilities for personal gain.
He maintained that the machine experienced a mechanical hitch that has nothing to do with stock availability, insisting that the county’s supply chain remains intact and functional.
Kamba emphasized that any patient who may have been sent outside the hospital on claims of supply shortages should immediately report the matter through the hospital’s official communication and complaint channels so that appropriate action can be taken.
He reiterated that no patient should be forced to incur extra costs under the guise of nonexistent stock-outs, warning that any attempts to undermine public confidence in the county health system will be thoroughly investigated.
A crosscheck conducted by Channel 15 News on Thursday evening further contradicted the shortage narrative. A patient, Mutia Muthoka, who was within the hospital premises, confirmed that her Complete Blood Count (CBC) test was processed and attended to at the hospital laboratory. He stated that laboratory services were ongoing despite earlier reports suggesting a total shutdown.
County health officials now say efforts are underway to ensure the hematology analyzer is restored to full operation while also safeguarding the integrity of public healthcare delivery in Kitui.
Channel 15 News… Full Story First.
