Murang’a DG Stephen Munania challenges Ruto over Level 4 hospitals funding
Murang’a County Deputy Governor Stephen Munania has said President William Ruto’s government is meddling with the affairs of county governments in Kenya.
Speaking to one of the radio stations on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, Munania said the president is influencing which Level 4 hospital is to be funded or not.
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According to Munania, the responsibility for managing and equipping Level 4 hospitals lies squarely with county governments.
He questioned why the national government was making decisions on matters that fall under devolved functions.
Funding concerns
“If the money is available for equipping, then why is the President the one to determine which Level 4 hospital, which is a county government function, should get which machine, which is an X-ray or a CT scan?” Munania asked.
At the same time, he expressed concern over the national government’s involvement in areas such as vaccination, which he said falls under veterinary services, a county function.
“If they have the resources, then why is the Senate not asking the national government these questions? Why are they not utilising?” he posed.
Munania further observed that certain institutions meant to serve both levels of government were focusing only on the national side.
“In the same breath, we have institutions that are supposed to serve both the national and the county government that are serving only the national government and forgetting that they are also to serve the county government, and what they do is lecture the county government on their functions,” he said.
Call for Senate’s help
Thus, he stressed that such overlaps and interference undermine the principles of devolution, which were designed to bring services closer to the people.
The deputy governor urged the Senate to step in and address the matter directly.
“The Senate should ask the national government why it is funding Level 4 hospitals instead of providing that money for equipping them.
“Why is the President the one determining which Level 4 hospital to fund, when that is a county government function?” Munania said.
Consequently, he called for clear boundaries to be respected between the two levels of government so that service delivery can be efficient and counties can manage their resources effectively.
