The media houses on 7th February 2019, highlighted Thursday, the raid by the Machakos County Governor Dr. Alfred Mutua, into private clinics allegedly
using equipment and drugs from the Machakos County Referral Hospital.

Police arrested four suspects linked to a syndicate involved in stealing and trading free government drugs in Machakos town. The four, working in two private clinics opposite Machakos Level 5 Hospital were arrested during a joint crackdown conducted by Governor Alfred Mutua and DCI officers headed by town Sub-county DCI boss Rhoda Kanyi.

It was alleged theatre equipment and drugs labelled ‘GoK’ were recovered from Lugpharm Clinic. The owner could not explain how the consignment found its way to the facility.

The raid was said to have been prompted by a persistent shortage/ lack of drugs at the hospital despite the allocation of budget to purchase the drugs. The clinics implied in the activity were Uzuri, Lugpharm Private Clinics in Machakos shut down over alleged stolen drugs and medical equipment from the County Referral Hospital A multi-agency team comprised of officers from the various Boards and Councils investigating one of the clinics. and Metropolis. The PS Ministry of Health instructed the Boards and Councils to immediately carry out investigations and verify the report.

The investigation team had representation from the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, the Nursing Council of Kenya, and the Medical Laboratory Technologist and Technicians Board. Kenya Medical Supplies Authority officers were also on the ground to verify and keep track of the drugs to find out how the Government drugs and equipment ended up in private clinics.