The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) has renewed the push to have the Health function reverted to the National Government.

Elgeyo Marakwet Branch Secretary Benson Biwott says devolved units lack the capacity and resources to run the function which he says continues to deteriorate.

Addressing the press, Biwott lamented that heat has continued to suffer reduced budgetary allocation annually.

“County governments lack the capacity to run the health sector and we want it reverted back to the national government. This sector is important and cannot just be ignored,” he noted.

He cited the county, where Heath’s budget was cut to Sh110 million up from Sh300 million despite the growing population of residents.

He raised concerns over the understaffing at public facilities, stating that the Human resource component remains a major challenge at the counties.

“Budgetary allocation to the sector continues to reduce annually. This has led to understaffing and shortage of medicines at public facilities in the counties. This is worrying indeed,” he observed.

Biwott says if the Universal Health Coverage, which he described a crucial programme is to succeed, a referendum was necessary to have the function taken over by the national government.

“Universal Health Coverage is a noble programme. However, the challenges facing the Health department at the counties threaten this programme. We therefore require a referendum to take back health to the national government as soon as possible so that things can run smoothly in this sector,” added Biwott.

The union also observed that counties have numerous loopholes that aid corruption, adding that things could deteriorate if urgent action is not taken.