TREASURY URGED TO RELEASE KAKAMEGA OXYGEN PLANT FROM MOMBASA PORT

Kakamega Governor H.E DR. FCPA Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya has called on the National Treasury to intervene so that an Oxygen plant imported by Kakamega County can be released from the port of Mombasa over Ksh 8 million owed to the Kenya Revenue Agency.

The Governor was speaking during an address to the Media Wednesday, where he revealed that the County procured the plant, which has a capacity of producing 1,000 litres of oxygen per minute, to address a shortage of the essential commodity being witnessed countrywide.

“Holding on to the plant when our people require services from our health facilities during this tough Covid-19 pandemic period is ill-timed; the plant should be released to allow for its transfer to Kakamega,” the Governor said and directed the County Ministry of Health Services to expedite delivery and installation of the plant.

Currently, the County has a functional oxygen plant that can only supply upto 300 litres of oxygen per minute.

On Covid-19 containment, the County boss encouraged residents to visit designated Covid-19 vaccination sites for the jab and decried the total number of residents so far vaccinated during the first and second phase of the campaign. A total 36,499 residents have so far been vaccinated.

Also in attendance were Bungoma Governor H.E Wycliffe Wangamati, Kakamega Deputy Governor Prof. Philip Museve Kutima, County Commissioner Madam Pauline Dola, Health Services CECM Dr. Collins Matemba and County Secretary and Head of Public Service Madam Jacinta Aluoch Odhiambo among other senior Government officers.