Get well soon Prof Nyongo

Prof Peter Anyang' Nyong'o, our Minister for Medical Services is admitted at the University of California San Francisco, Mount Zion Medical Centre undergoing Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy.
He had been diagnosed with prostrate cancer at MP Shah Hospital in Nairobi. I want to sincerely wish him good health and a speedy recovery.
With that said, I want us to look at Kenya in the 21st Century with regard to medical services. 50 years into our Independence, we have no known medical capacity to address even small ailments. Our political leaders are known to be flown out to foreign hospitals at our expenses for even cases of flu.
The only exemption we had last year was when our PM, the Rt Hon Raila Odinga was admitted at Nairobi Hospital and he came out of it with lots of humour. How I wish I can get a replay of how he described his condition in a forum at the University of Nairobi!
We do to unclog our systems, both in the streets and in hospitals
Kenyans must rise up and demand that we address our medical reach. The government recently came up with increased contributions to the National Hospital Insurance Fund and we had some loud mouths led by Mr. Francis Atwoli, the long time Secretary General of Cotu making all sorts of noise. He sits at the NHIF Board and it seems he was always out of the country or asleep when such weighty matters were being discussed at the Board level.
Time has come for us to support our able Minister for Medical Services to help deliver a Health Scheme that will benefit all Kenyans in Kenya. It is very sad that tax payers money is always being spent to give our political leaders access to better health in foreign hospitals when such moneys can be used to advance schemes that could avail affordable health care to all Kenyans regardless of your status.
It is also sad that in our health facilities Doctors work as if they do not care about the value of human life. They are ever complacent and in most cases, they are absent. You will meet long ques in our hospitals at a time our Doctors are busy playing golf.
It is also sad that our Doctors give preference and more attention to the patients who pay the most, who have medical schemes that can help them issues hefty bills or to the political class for expedience.
It is no wonder that such cavalier attitudes is what makes our hospitals go without drugs as the Doctors play roulette with the lives of Kenyans. Their interest hence becomes money not life saving.
As we wish the Hon Nyong'o God's gift to life, we must say no to our leaders running away from us whenever they are sick. Where do they think we should go to when we fall sick?
They are benefiting from our taxes, what about us. It is time the political leaders woke up from their stupor and led Kenya. 50 years without any sign of development in the medical front shows that these leaders have nothing to offer Kenyans.
We must roll out our sleeves and vote all of them out of political office in 2012. Let us vote in a team that can deliver for Kenyans within the shortest possible time.
The die is cast and Kenyans are watching.
Pole sana Mheshimiwa.

Odhiambo T Oketch
Komarock Nairobi