Trans Nzoia Woman Representative Lilian Siyoi has accused the county government of failing residents by allowing poor services in public hospitals, forcing some patients covered by the Social Health Authority (SHA) to turn to expensive private facilities for treatment.
Siyoi said several public health facilities in the county are struggling with shortages of essential medicines, non-pharmaceutical supplies and healthcare workers, leaving residents without reliable access to quality care.
“Our people are being forced to incur huge financial burdens 8in seeking alternative healthcare in private hospitals,” She spoke during the burial of Mrs Joyce Wangare Njiru at Mito Mbili in Cherang’any, where she called for urgent action to strengthen the county’s public healthcare system.
Siyoi said building hospitals and installing medical equipment would mean little if patients could not access medicines or qualified healthcare professionals when they needed them. She urged the Trans Nzoia County Government to ensure public facilities are adequately stocked and properly staffed.
She also raised concerns over what she described as low morale among healthcare workers, calling for better staffing and working conditions to improve service delivery.
According to Siyoi, stronger public hospitals would reduce the number of families forced to seek care in private facilities, where medical bills can quickly become unaffordable, while making health insurance reforms more meaningful at the grassroots.
Beyond healthcare, Siyoi called for investment in factories, reliable energy and industrial development to create jobs for young people in the county.
“Our energy cannot sustain a good number of factories. And without factories, there is no job employment,” she said.
She further called for greater investment in agriculture and food production, linking stronger economic opportunities to reduced financial pressure on households.
She urged the county government to promote local manufacturing and industrial development, saying the move could expand employment and economic opportunities for residents.
Siyoi also highlighted women’s economic empowerment initiatives, including table-banking programmes and women’s groups that she said had received financial support.
