Governors plot to take charge of immunization, a function still controlled by the Health ministry under the national government.
Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma said the national government has failed to carry out immunization in a proper way.
The governor said they have been kept in the dark on how the immunization process is conducted in the counties.
“We don’t know who the government is giving the money to carry out this process. It might be benefiting a few individuals. We must immunize our children to avert any form of disability,” he said.
Ranguma who is also the chairman of Health Committee in the Council of Governors said they have agreed to demand that function back to the counties.
He said counties will allow UNICEF to continue with the purchase of immunization drugs.
“After all, UNICEF is the entity that purchases the vaccines. We will allow them to continue with the purchase and hand over to our personnel to administer the process,” he said.
Addressing people living with disability in Kisumu on Thursday when he handed them different equipment, Ranguma said counties are in close contacts with the immunization recipients.
He said counties are fully prepared to implement the immunization process.
Ranguma said they willingly allowed the national government to conduct that process and would not want any resistance when they demand it back.
“The national government should be ready to hand over that function to us. We are prepared to handle it better than them,” he said.
He castigated the national government for holding on some functions that were duly handed over to the counties as per the new constitution.