Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has once again demonstrated her resolve to fix the county’s healthcare system, directing her department to immediately advertise 500 new nursing positions. Addressing concerns raised by the nurses’ union, Governor Wavinya explained that while her administration had agreed to six out of seven demands, the issue of promotions had to be guided by budgetary constraints. Only nurses with more than seven years of service could be promoted this year, she clarified — a decision that reflects her commitment to both fairness and fiscal responsibility. Despite the union’s rejection, the Governor reaffirmed her stand that lasting solutions must be built on transparency and proper use of public resources.
Since assuming office as the second Governor of Machakos, Wavinya has tackled systemic neglect that left hospitals struggling and healthcare workers stagnating in the same job groups for years. Under her leadership, a wave of promotions and new recruitments has transformed the sector. In just two years, her administration has promoted 422 healthcare workers at a cost of Sh19.08 million annually, hired 54 nurses in 2024 at Sh56 million, and in 2025 alone recruited 183 more nurses at Sh180 million. Most recently, she promoted 231 nurses in February and May at a cost of Sh37.1 million and is currently finalizing the recruitment of 42 more nurses worth Sh40.8 million. Few counties can boast such an aggressive and deliberate investment in human capital.
Governor Wavinya was candid about the challenges posed by incomplete devolution, noting that while healthcare functions were transferred, critical funding remains under the national government. She called on Senator Agnes Kavindu to channel her energy into the Senate, pushing for proper allocations and the settlement of outstanding funds. Machakos, she revealed, is owed over Sh500 million by the Social Health Authority (SHA), money that could significantly strengthen service delivery. In her words, “the work of Senate is to secure good allocations and timely SHA payments.” This appeal underscores her pragmatic approach — focusing not on politics, but on securing resources for the people of Machakos.
Perhaps the most striking revelation from her address was the turnaround in hospital revenue collections. Governor Wavinya disclosed that under the previous administration, hospitals collected a paltry Sh38 million in FY 2021/2022 and Sh30 million in 2022/2023. “I realized this must be a joke,” she said, noting that loopholes and inefficiencies had crippled the system. After introducing computerization and reforms, the current financial year has seen collections soar to an unprecedented Sh775 million. This remarkable leap not only exposes the rot that plagued the system but also affirms Wavinya Ndeti’s ability to deliver accountability, efficiency, and transformative leadership in Machakos.
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