Police officers in Kilifi have arrested a driver employed by the county government’s health department for allegedly stealing medical supplies valued at KSh 100,000. The supplies, intended for Bamba Health Centre in Ganze constituency, were found being sold at a private pharmacy, prompting public outcry.
County Executive Committee Member for Health, Peter Mwarogo, confirmed the incident, lamenting the detrimental effects of such thefts on the county’s healthcare system. Speaking at Kilifi North Sub County Police Headquarters on Saturday, Mwarogo expressed frustration with staff members undermining efforts to ensure health facilities are well-stocked.
“This explains the persistent complaints from wananchi about drug shortages in our facilities despite regular supplies. We now see that some staff are diverting these supplies to private entities,” he said.
Mwarogo announced that the driver’s employment had been terminated and warned other employees against engaging in similar criminal activities. “We’ve handed the driver over to security agencies for investigation and prosecution. He is no longer our employee,” Mwarogo added.
The arrest followed a tip-off from a member of the public, who reported seeing county government drugs being sold at a private pharmacy. Acting on this information, police swiftly recovered the stolen supplies and detained the suspect.
Investigations are now underway to determine whether other individuals within the health department were involved. “This serves as a warning to all staff those engaging in malpractices will face the full force of the law,” Mwarogo emphasized. He encouraged residents to report any suspicious activities to help curb such thefts.
In response to the incident, Mwarogo hinted at plans to introduce an electronic drug distribution system to track supplies and ensure they reach their intended destinations.
Kilifi North Sub County Police Commander, Kennedy Maina, commended the public for their vigilance and confirmed that the suspect will be arraigned in court on Monday. “We will not relent in our efforts to eradicate corruption within public service,” Maina said.
The incident underscores the importance of public vigilance in safeguarding healthcare resources meant for local communities.
