FIGHTING CORRUPTION IN ALL PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL PLAYERS – SAYS DR. OMAR ALY-MTRH DDCS
[Tuesday, 09 March, 2010, 10:10]

Corruption is increasingly viewed as a major impediment to sustained economic development in Kenya. Reports from the government anti corruption agency indicate that the culture of corruption has grown roots in our society and has become endemic. The government in that respect asserts that effective anti-corruption efforts require an active anticorruption culture and a vigilant citizenry empowered to confront and fight the vice in all public offices.

While presenting views on the war against corruption, The Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Deputy Director, Clinical Services Dr Omar Aly said it is the responsibility of all players in Public Institutions to fight the corruption scourge in order to make lives of Kenyans bearable. He called on all employees in the Hospital to hold themselves responsible to fight corruption in their areas of discharging services.

Dr. Omar also highlighted the recommendations that were reached during an anti corruption seminar  for Chief Executives, Permanent Secretaries and other senior government accounting officers which was held late last year in Kabete.He highlighted causes of corruption in Kenya including bad governance vices like; Political patronage/lack of political will, breakdown/erosion/perversion of societal values and norms and Non enforcement of the law. Other vices he highlighted were; Tribalism, favoritism, nepotism and cronyism, Weak or absence of management systems. The DDCS said the common effects of corruption are; increased cost of goods and services; shoddy work, stalled projects and poor medical services (e.g. lack of medicine and doctors).

The DDCS also said that if all public servants join hands to fight the vice; all government systems will increase revenue collection, Create more jobs, Improve infrastructure and provide better health care.

In a rejoinder, the Assistant Deputy Director Clinical Services Dr Wilson Aruasa said people charged with serving others should not allow corruption to deny their clients services. Dr Aruasa said with the onset of ICT at MTRH, the Hospital has reduced loss of revenue drastically.
The Hospital’s Departmental heads of Security, Finance, Supplies & Procurement, and ICT also highlighted measures in place to reduce all forms of corruption in the hospital.

Through their presentations, to the well attended meeting at the School of Medicine old library, it was learnt that all employees whether junior and those in Senior Management should ensure that the Hospital is not losing money or is made incapable of discharging its services as stipulated by the rules and code of conduct governing state corporations.

 Those present during the discussion were; DDCS Dr. Omar Aly, ADDCS Dr. Wilson Aruasa, Finance Manager Mr. Mathews Birgen, Consultants, Heads of Departments and Hospital Administrators.