Governor George Natembeya has defended specialist care at Wamalwa Kijana Teaching and Referral Hospital.
The Trans Nzoia governor cites two spinal operations and a knee replacement as evidence of growing specialist capacity at Wamalwa Kijana Hospital.
Governor George Natembeya defends hospital services in Trans Nzoia, citing successful spinal surgeries at Wamalwa Kijana Teaching and Referral Hospital. He challenged critics who have labelled the Kitale facility “Shakahola” amid concerns about deaths and patient care.
Natembeya said surgeons successfully treated two young road accident patients and performed a knee replacement on an elderly woman. He presented the operations as evidence of the hospital’s expanding capacity to offer advanced treatment.
Surgeons treat spinal injuries and osteoarthritis
The governor said the surgical team performed a Posterior Instrumented Fusion on a 21-year-old man. The patient had suffered a traumatic spinal injury in a road traffic accident.
In a separate case, surgeons carried out Cervical Lateral Mass Screw Fixation on an 18-year-old woman. She had also sustained a spinal injury in a road accident, affecting her cervical spine.
The team also performed a Cemented Total Knee Arthroplasty on Wednesday, Natembeya said. That operation involved a 71-year-old woman who had lived with osteoarthritis for about three years. The governor cited all three procedures while highlighting efforts to strengthen specialist services at the facility.
Natembeya defends hospital against criticism
Meanwhile, the hospital’s reputation has drawn public debate over patient care and reported deaths. President William Ruto used the “Shakahola” nickname during a recent visit to Trans Nzoia. He linked the label to concerns about patients who reportedly died after seeking treatment there.
However, Natembeya accused those continuing to use the nickname of harbouring sinister intentions. He said his administration and medical teams remained committed to quality treatment and a safe environment for patients.
The governor also described the successful operations as part of efforts to bring specialised healthcare closer to residents. His administration, he said, would continue working with qualified medical professionals to improve treatment at the hospital.
