By Joel Clinton
The morning of October 8th, 2025, will forever remain etched in the minds of residents of Maseno Township, Kisumu West sub-county. Thick smoke rose from Siriba Dispensary, the only nearby health facility serving hundreds of villagers. By the time locals arrived with jerrycans and buckets of water, the dispensary had already been reduced to ashes. The fire, suspected to have been caused by faulty wiring and substandard construction, consumed everything: patient files, medical supplies, and even the few beds available for emergencies.
What shocked many was the revelation that Siriba Dispensary had never been equipped with a single fire extinguisher since it began operations. “We have been neglected for too long. If the county cared, this wouldn’t have happened,” lamented Joshua Orambo, a resident who watched helplessly as the flames engulfed the building.
The tragedy has once again drawn attention to the dire state of healthcare in the Northwest ward, where residents feel abandoned by their leaders. Facilities like Siriba, Got Rateng’, and Rera dispensaries are under-equipped, under-staffed, and run by demotivated health workers. Some nurses posted there are said to be those rejected from other hospitals, transferred without proper vetting.
According to locals, it’s not just about the lack of drugs it’s about the lack of commitment. “You go to the hospital in pain, but the nurses are busy recording TikTok videos,” Joshua adds bitterly. His words reflect a growing frustration among community members who feel that social media obsession and negligence have replaced compassion and service.
Residents also blame Members of County Assembly (MCAs) for failing in their oversight roles. Despite numerous complaints, little has been done to improve the conditions of rural health centers. The county’s health budget seems to vanish in paperwork, while dispensaries continue operating without electricity, clean water, or medicine.
Now, with Siriba Dispensary gone, hundreds of villagers are forced to travel several kilometers to Maseno Mission Hospital an expense many cannot afford. For them, the fire was not just a disaster; it was a painful reminder of how neglect, corruption, and incompetence continue to burn down the very foundations of public health care in Kisumu West.
