Kenya Power has disconnected power to Kisumu District hospital over an unpaid bill amounting to Sh700,000.
Kisumu County director of health, Dr Ojwang Lusi, protested over the move, saying the hospital owed the power company Sh1.7 million, of which Sh1 million was paid last week and efforts were being made to offset the balance.
“Before we make attempts to pay they are disconnecting, what motive do they have? he asked.
He said it was suspicious to disconnect power on a Friday when the offices were closed for the weekends.
Speaking to the press at the hospital, Lusi said it was wrong again to disconnect power to the patients and even babies in the incubator.
“Kenya Power is putting at risk lives of our patients and young children born prematurely by disconnecting power,” he said.
He said the hospital is now running on a generator, though expensive, but cannot be equated to lives of patients in the facility.
Lusi called for a close relationship between the hospital and Kenya Power to avoid such actions in future since the hospital has been paying its bills ever since without any default.
“Kenya Power should know that this is businesses and people must talk. We have been dealing with the power company for ages and at no time have we defaulted payment, so why disconnect power on this?” he said.