Machakos Governor Dr Alfred Mutua has sent a tough message to senior staff in the Department of Health and Emergency Services.
In a Facebook post on Friday, the governor noted that the senior county health officials risk being fired if they don't improve the standards of health facilities in the county.
Mutua said the county officials have two weeks to make the necessary changes to ensure the public hospitals offer quality services.
"The environment, the flow of patients, the speed of treatment and overall quality of services should be the best in the country. If others can do it, so can we in Machakos," said Mutua.
"In Machakos, I am proud of the top-notch doctors, amazing nurses, experienced clinical officers and our qualified health workers. I, therefore, expect my people to receive the highest standard of healthcare. And trust me, they will," he added.
The county boss, however, noted that the provision of good healthcare cannot be done in an environment which is wanting, adding that international standards have to be met and maintained.
"I am a strong believer of a saying by Weston Churchill that you shape the environment then the environment shapes you," he noted.
The vocal politician noted that the problem with Machakos hospitals is not lack of money but bad attitude and culture as well as lack of an eye for standards by a section of employees.
"The problem is not money, our public hospitals have access to more funding than even the top-notch private hospitals in Kenya," he said.
Mutua has urged the senior staff to visit the good hospitals in Kenya for benchmarking and implement the lessons they learn.
"We are good at initiating new projects but awful in maintaining what we have and what we build," he said.