Mumias East Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Salasya has once again confronted the Ministry of Health and Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale over alleged irregularities in the Social Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) that have left St Mary’s Hospital in Mumias struggling.
In a strong statement on his official X account on Thursday, September 4, 2025, Salasya criticized what he described as a failing health system and warned against the politicization of health services.
“Our people will not be referred to Nairobi while doctors sit idle because of politics. And let me remind those who thrive in chaos, I hate drama. I am not here to dance in funerals of progress or sing lullabies for failed systems,” Salasya wrote.
The MP’s remarks came after members of the parliamentary Health Committee, led by CS Aden Duale, visited St Mary’s Hospital to discuss the institution’s financial woes. Salasya emphasized the hospital’s central role in the Mumias community.
“I sincerely thank the honourable members of the Health Committee for visiting St Mary’s Hospital, Mumias. This hospital is not just a facility; it is the heartbeat of Wanga land. If St Mary’s sneezes, the entire Mumias East catches a cold,” he said.
Salasya issued a direct demand to CS Duale to release all funds owed to the hospital. He called for the immediate payment of Ksh37 million owed to St Mary’s and stressed that the outstanding NHIF debt of Ksh143 million must also be cleared.
“I will not allow it to be buried alive while some people are busy dancing on its grave. I demand that the Ksh37 million owed to St Mary’s be released without delay. And let it be clear: the Ksh143 million NHIF debt must also be paid,” Salasya stated.
He further demanded that the Ministry of Health remit all past NHIF dues, warning against neglecting facilities that serve local communities.
“You cannot milk a cow for years and then abandon it when it grows weak. If NHIF can pour billions elsewhere, then Mumias will not be treated like a stepchild. I have instructed the management to ensure that once operations resume, all specialists return immediately,” the MP said.
Salasya’s stance highlights growing frustration among lawmakers and the public over delayed payments and mismanagement in Kenya’s health sector, underscoring the urgent need for accountability and timely disbursement of funds to local hospitals.
