Despite health minister aden duale's august announcement that st mary’s mumias hospital had reopened, the 93-year-old catholic-owned facility remains closed due to unpaid government debts. Patients have been traveling far for medical services. Hospital management says the sh180 million debt has not been fully settled.
St mary’s mumias hospital, closed since june 3, has caused hardships for residents of mumias and nearby areas. According to father ian kafuna, priest at st peter’s mumias catholic church and hospital administrator, the sh180 million debt from nhif and sha remains unpaid. “We believe the government has good intentions to revive this hospital, although delays are inevitable. We hope the funds will arrive,” father kafuna said.
Hundreds of patients and pregnant women have traveled to butere, matungu, and kakamega for care. Kakamega senator boni khalwale said he will raise the issue in the senate to save the hospital. “I will take the matter to parliament on this issue. If we delay, kakamega residents and neighboring counties relying on this hospital will lose it completely,” khalwale said.
On august 3, during the taficare launch in kakamega, minister duale and sha ceo mercy mwangangi announced the hospital's reopening and a sh14 million payment. Duale claimed the government had paid half the debt. However, bishop joseph obanyi said the government still owes sh35 million, with only sh98 million received from sh140 million due from nhif and sh40 million from sha. He urged president william ruto to intervene.
On october 25, duale told the senate the issue is being politicized and confirmed payments of sh90 million plus sh14 million. “I said don't use st. mary’s for politics. I did my part,” he said. But on october 30, bishop obanyi said he has no information and directed contact to st peter’s mumias administrators, emphasizing the debt remains unpaid.
Disagreements over the payment amount persist, and the hospital stays closed.