Kisumu County governor hopeful Dr Hezron Makobewa, has taken a swipe at the county government over failure to pay health workers.
Health workers in the county downed their tools on Monday, protesting delayed salary and non deductions of statutory.
Makobewa said the county government must prioritise its duties to ensure such occurrences do not occur.
He said salaries of health workers should be prioritised by any serious county government.
He said the health of the people is important, claiming that many deaths occurred on Monday because the health staffs were out protesting.
“How many mothers died while giving birth that day, how many patients died in the Intensive Care Unit? I mean, this should not happen,” he said.
Addressing a press conference in Kisumu on Wednesday, Makobewa said that Governor Jack Ranguma must step up and ensure salaries are paid on time.
He further castigated the governor for transversing the county dishing out money as hand out to youths and religious leaders, instead of paying the salaries of health workers.
“This habit of giving out hand outs in form of millions of shillings should stop. Channel that money to some projects that can assist the county residents,” he said.
One week ago, Ranguma was held hostage by youth in Manyatta, who demanded Sh500,000 from him before attending a religious function in the area.