Council of Governors Health Committee Chairperson and Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has called for greater accountability among healthcare workers, saying Kenyans deserve quality and reliable health services in return for the huge investments county governments make in the health sector.

Speaking during the official opening of the 2026 Devolution Sensitisation Week in Garissa, Governor Nassir said county governments continue to invest heavily in training healthcare professionals, equipping health facilities and paying staff salaries, making accountability to wananchi a fundamental responsibility. 

“Accountability in healthcare is accountability to the mwananchi. County governments invest heavily in training our healthcare workers, equipping our facilities and paying salaries, and the public deserves a fair return through reliable, quality services,” Nassir said.

He noted that the Council of Governors would strengthen supervision across county health facilities to ensure healthcare workers uphold professionalism and deliver quality services.

“Going forward, we will strengthen supervision and accountability across our facilities,” he said.

The governor also cautioned health workers against engaging in private business during official working hours, describing the practice as a misuse of public resources and a betrayal of public trust.

“No healthcare worker should be conducting private business when they are meant to be serving patients in a public facility. That is an abuse of public time and public resources, and we must be prepared to treat it for what it is—a form of corruption,” he stated.

While acknowledging the critical role played by healthcare workers in delivering services, Nassir emphasized that government support must be matched by commitment and integrity.

“Our healthcare workers deserve our support, but with that support comes a responsibility to serve,” he added.

The week-long Devolution Sensitisation Week has brought together national and county government leaders, development partners, civil society organizations and members of the public to showcase the gains made under devolution while discussing strategies to improve governance and service delivery across counties.