The Senate Committee on Health has raised alarm over the deteriorating state of healthcare in Kitui, Makueni and Machakos counties, painting a grim picture of hospitals overwhelmed by poor infrastructure, staff stagnation and a lack of essential medical equipment.

Led by Senator Mariam Omar, the committee toured several Level Four and Level Five hospitals across the Lower Eastern region to assess the quality of service delivery, staff welfare and resource utilisation. The visit exposed systemic problems that have left patients and medical staff struggling under harsh conditions.

During the visit, senators discovered that many health workers had remained in the same job group for over twelve years without promotion — a stagnation that has severely affected morale and patient care. “Many health workers have remained in the same job group for over twelve years without promotion,” the committee noted in its statement.

The senators also raised concerns over long delays in processing Social Health Authority (SHA) reimbursements and claims, which have disrupted services and caused financial strain in hospitals. The delays, they said, have made it difficult for facilities to stock medicines and maintain equipment.

The committee further identified glaring equipment shortages, including a missing mammogram machine at Kitui County Referral Hospital and several non-functional X-ray machines in other hospitals across the three counties.

At Kitusuru Level 5 Hospital, Senator Tabitha Mutinda expressed outrage after witnessing patients forced to share beds due to congestion. “We can do better, good people. I’m very disappointed to see six patients sharing one bed, three infants and their mothers. This should not happen in this era,” she said.

The legislators also highlighted the need for hospitals to embrace digital record-keeping systems. Senator Omar stressed that “facilities should use reliable and secure digital systems,” adding that these tools are vital for accountability and protecting patient data.

Despite the distressing findings, the committee urged healthcare workers to remain committed to their service. Governors from the three counties acknowledged the challenges but blamed delayed SHA reimbursements for slowing progress.

The Senate Health Committee is now expected to compile a detailed report with recommendations aimed at restoring dignity, efficiency and hope in Kenya’s county health systems.