The Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds, chaired by Taita Taveta Senator Johnes Mwaruma, has challenged Siaya Governor James Orengo over delays in implementing House resolutions on hospital assets, land titles and financial management.

The Committee met Governor Orengo and his County Executive to assess implementation of Senate recommendations arising from earlier consideration of Auditor-General reports on Siaya County Referral Hospital and Ambira Level 4 Hospital.

At Siaya County Referral Hospital, buildings have since been valued at KSh445.25 million, but valuation of land and other property, plant and equipment remains incomplete. Registration of land ownership documents has also gone beyond timelines previously given to the Senate.

“We cannot keep receiving commitments on valuation and title registration without closure. These are valuable public assets, and the House resolutions must be implemented within clear timelines,” said Sen. Mwaruma.

Governor Orengo attributed the delays to the scale of county assets, valuation costs, land-registration requirements and boundary issues, committing to complete valuation of health facilities within six months and make progress on titles within 90 days.

“We acknowledge that the process has taken longer than anticipated, but we are engaging Government valuers and the relevant land agencies to regularise ownership and complete the outstanding work,” said Governor Orengo.

The Committee also heard that SHA and legacy NHIF owe Siaya County health facilities KSh558.21 million, including about KSh187 million inherited from NHIF.

Sen. Beth Syengo warned that delayed reimbursements must not be compounded by weak financial controls.

“When facilities are owed hundreds of millions of shillings, every receivable, payable and rejected claim must be properly tracked. Otherwise hospitals are exposed both by delayed reimbursements and poor internal controls,” said Sen. Syengo.

The Committee further directed Siaya County to amend its Health Act to conform with the national Facilities Improvement Financing Act, which requires health facilities to retain 100 per cent of their collections. Members noted that the county law is subordinate where it conflicts with national legislation and told Governor Orengo, a Senior Counsel, that Siaya should lead by example in complying with the constitutional hierarchy of laws.

The Committee will review progress on valuation, title registration and legislative alignment at its next engagement with the county.