Ochilo eats humble pie, admits Sh 220M DNA/PCR molecular
Diagnostic equipment was donation from CDC
By Anderson Ojwang
Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko was forced to eat humble pie and admitted that the Sh 220M state-of-the-art DNA/PCR Molecular Diagnostic Equipment installed at the County Molecular Laboratory at Migori County Referral Hospital was indeed a donation.
The admission leaves the governor with rotten eggs on his face and gives his main challenger, Uriri MP Mark Nyamita, a bragging right over accountability and transparency in the county.
On Sunday, Nyamita had demanded that Ochilo show records of procurement and clarify whether the equipment was donated to the county.
“Governor Ochilo Ayacko has claimed that his administration purchased the Sh220 million DNA/PCR Molecular Diagnostic Equipment installed at Migori County Referral Hospital.
Available records indicate that the equipment was acquired through support from KEMRI/CDC and development partners, and was already at the facility before the current administration took office,”he wrote.
On Monday, Ochilo took to his social media platforms to clarify the matter, saying, “That admission, however reluctant, speaks louder than any defensive posture. The work continues.”
He said, as Governor, he took pride in his administration’s strategic investments in healthcare infrastructure.
“The DNA/PCR Molecular Diagnostic equipment, acquired through our partnership with the CDC, represents a significant milestone for Migori County—valued at KSh 220 million and currently the only facility of its kind in the region,” he wrote.
He said, for clarity, government assets, whether acquired through direct purchase or strategic partnerships, were public property managed for the benefit of the county.
“This is basic governance. Recent claims that this equipment is worth KSh 17 million are factually incorrect. I invite anyone making such assertions to verify these specifications with the equipment manufacturer or our development partners,” he said.
He said the valuation was documented and transparent and that what matters was that Migori County residents now have access to world-class diagnostic capabilities.
“This strengthens our healthcare system and positions us competitively in the region. Our focus remains on implementation and results—not on debating well-documented facts,” he said.
Ayacko welcomed substantive policy conversations about healthcare delivery, but said they must be grounded in evidence.
“Notably, even the most vocal critics have now acknowledged that Migori County has tangible achievements on the ground,” he said.
On Sunday, the governor posted on his social media platform and took credit for his administration’s acquisition of the facility, while Nyamita raised a red flag and claimed the equipment was donated. Nyamita demanded records for the procurement.
Ochilo said Migori County in Western Kenya was the first to install the equipment and termed it a milestone.
“In the entire Western Kenya region, it is only my administration that has been able to procure a state-of-the-art DNA/PCR Molecular Diagnostic Equipment which is installed at our County Molecular Laboratory at Migori County Referral Hospital. The equipment is worth Ksh. 220 million,” Ochilo wrote.
Ayacko said the acquisition of the cutting-edge equipment marked a pivotal turning point in his commitment to providing the highest standard of healthcare services to the people.
“This tremendous investment in advanced diagnostic technology enables us to further enhance our diagnostic capabilities and improve patient outcomes in our county and the entire Western Kenya region,” he wrote.
But Nyamita wrote, “the subsequent commissioning and operationalisation of the equipment should not be presented as its purchase.
When the machine was commissioned in January 2024, the Governor himself acknowledged the role of donors, the national government, hospital management and development partners in making the equipment operational,”
Ochilo said the DNA/PCR Molecular Diagnostic Equipment was a game-changer in the field of medicine.
“By utilising the power of DNA analysis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology, this sophisticated equipment provides us with unparalleled accuracy and efficiency in diagnosing various diseases, including infectious diseases, genetic disorders, and even forensic analysis,” he wrote.
Nyamita wanted Ochilo to answer the question about the procurement and table evidence to that effect.
“If the Sh220 million was indeed spent by your administration to purchase this equipment, where is the procurement record? Where is the tender? Where is the payment evidence? And where did the Sh220 million come from?” he quipped.
Nyamita welcomed the investment but maintained that transparency and accountability were paramount.
“We welcome every investment that improves healthcare in Migori. But public leadership must be anchored in truth, accountability and proper attribution of public resources,” he said.
Nyamita said donated equipment could not be claimed to have been procured by the government.
“A donated asset cannot become a government purchase simply because it was later commissioned or operationalised. The people deserve the truth. Facts must prevail,” he said.
