Migori County Governor Ochilo Ayacko has defended his administration’s healthcare record, dismissing political opponents as “rumor mongers” seeking to sabotage public trust in the county’s primary health facility.

The county boss made the remarks following an extensive inspection tour of the Migori County Referral Hospital.

The visit comes on the heels of persistent public pressure and open criticism from Uriri Member of Parliament, Mark Nyamita, who has frequently castigated the governor over the alleged deteriorating state of healthcare services in the county.

False information

Addressing the press during the tour, Governor Ayacko took a direct swipe at his political rivals, accusing them of spreading malicious falsehoods to gain political mileage ahead of future elections.

 “I want to urge politicians who are eyeing political seats to desist from propagating falsehoods against health facilities. When you do this, you make the public skeptical and doubtful of the services we offer,” Governor Ayacko stated.

The governor specifically mocked an unnamed opponent who allegedly claimed they could solve all medical crises if elected. 

“I hear some of them talking as if they have a medicine for death. Death is a phenomenon you cannot hide from. When your hour comes, that is between you and your Maker. As public servants, our job is to offer the best care available, which is exactly what we are doing here.”

Defending the hospital’s operational capacity, the governor dispelled widespread rumors that the facility faced an acute oxygen shortage.

He confirmed that the hospital’s oxygen plant is fully functional, producing 3,000 liters of oxygen per hour against a local daily consumption rate of 6,000 liters leaving the facility with a comfortable surplus.

To further address the infrastructural needs of the county, Governor Ayacko highlighted several critical upgrades currently being undertaken at the facility.

90 percent complete

The hospital’s Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Unit is nearing operational status, sitting at 90 percent completion with final fittings currently underway.

Additionally, the county administration is finalizing plans to complete the construction of the Surgical Unit and the main gate complex, which will be accompanied by extensive landscaping to significantly improve the hospital’s overall environment. 

Looking at long-term solutions to overcrowding, the Governor announced broader decongestion plans, revealing that the county intends to establish a completely new Level 4 hospital in Suna East to permanently ease service delivery pressures on the main Migori Referral facility.

SHA hurdle

During his interactions with patients, the governor noted that the biggest challenge facing healthcare delivery at the facility is the non-payment of Social Health Authority (SHA) premiums.

According to Ayacko, many patients fail to maintain active subscriptions, only attempting to clear their accounts after being admitted.

“The ability of our people to meet their hospital expenses is severely hampered because their SHA accounts have been disconnected due to non-payment. Don’t wait until you are sick to pay your subscription,” the governor urged.

Despite the governor’s reassuring remarks about the hospital’s state, concerns regarding service delivery times still linger. 

When pressed by a journalist about a caregiver who alleged they had waited from 8am until late afternoon without receiving complete attention, Governor Ayacko maintained that the facility was not overcrowded but promised to look into individual delays.

“I am yet to sample the data to know whether there is a systemic delay or not. But looking at the queues today, the facility is not crowded. If there was a delay for that specific person, there must have been a unique reason,” Ayacko noted.

The tour also built upon a major policy shift from just a few days ago, when the Governor declared a strict zero-tolerance policy on extortion within the hospital to clean up the sector and restore fading trust.

Issuing a rallying cry to Migori residents, the county boss urged the public to expose corrupt hospital staff on the spot.

“If you want to end corruption, do not give bribes,” Governor Ayacko stated emphatically, instructing citizens to take a firm stand by refusing to pay illicit cash.

Take video and picture evidence

To enforce this accountability directive, the Governor instructed residents to utilize their mobile phones to capture photographic evidence of any health official withholding medical care or demanding bribes.

He further urged the public to note down the staff identification or names of rogue workers and forward them directly to the county executive for immediate disciplinary action and dismissal.

Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to integrity, the Governor warned that public health resources are exclusively meant to serve the people of Migori County.

He emphasized that any officer found engaging in corruption, theft, or abuse of office will face firm disciplinary and legal consequences.

“Restoring public confidence in the healthcare system requires transparency, professionalism, and responsible use of public resources,” Ayacko noted, adding that every health worker moving forward will be expected to uphold the highest ethical standards.

The governor’s visit marks a high-stakes moment in Migori’s localized political battle, effectively throwing the ball back into the court of his fiercest critics, including Uriri lawmaker Mark Nyamita, who recently faced pushback from residents claiming the hospital is indeed stocked with medicine.