Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has challenged President William Ruto over the proposed upgrade of Kitale’s Level Five hospital, arguing that the national government must respect county responsibilities.
In remarks reported by The Star on 18 October, Natembeya said governors should be allowed to carry out their constitutional duties. He suggested that the national government could instead establish a university in the county.
Ruto has defended the proposed health investment as an improvement in services and criticised the governor’s resistance. The disagreement therefore concerns both the promised project and who should direct it.
Neither leader’s political account settles the legal allocation of powers or establishes that a formal transfer has occurred. The terms of any agreement, funding arrangements and administrative changes would be needed to assess what the proposal means for patients and county management.
The hospital dispute is a separate development from the earlier arguments over market stalls and the governor’s security.
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WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Publication of the proposed hospital arrangements.
- County and national responses on funding and management.