MPs order mobile clinics moved to counties
Ministry of Health PS Peter Kiplagat Tum address the press with the Parliamentary Health Committee chairperson Sabina Chege during a retreat at Sarova Whitesands, Mombasa, on May 15, 2018. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
In 2016, a leaked internal audit report revealed how top Ministry of Health officials could not account for Sh5 billion.
It also emerged that funds meant for free maternity care had been diverted.
The report revealed that Sh800 million was paid to Estama Investment Ltd to supply 100 portable medical clinics.
A parliamentary committee has ordered the removal and distribution of the controversial Sh800 million mobile clinics lying unused in Mombasa.
The committee further refused to allocate some Sh3.2 million to the Health ministry for transportation of the clinics to various counties.
On Thursday during a closed door session at Sarova Whitesands Hotel, Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki had asked the committee to allocate more funds for the transportation of the clinics.
RESOURCES
“We won’t give you a single cent. The issue of the contract, how much has been paid, how much was paid for, what it was paid and when it was paid will follow up. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission cannot investigate something for two years. Surely we can’t add damage on top of another. We can’t waste government resources,” the health committee’s chairperson Sabina Chege said.
The mobile clinics have been wasting away at the National Youth Service camp in Miritini more than two years since they were brought into the country.
SH10M EACH
In 2016, a leaked internal audit report revealed how top Ministry of Health officials could not account for Sh5 billion. It also emerged that funds meant for free maternity care had been diverted. The report revealed that Sh800 million was paid to Estama Investment Ltd to supply 100 portable medical clinics.
The Kenya Revenue Authority filing revealed that Estama Investments spent Sh1.4 million to buy and import each of the container clinics that were then sold to the government at Sh10 million each.
Head of Clinical Services, Dr Izaq Odongo, defended the clinics noting they would be used in the disadvantaged communities.
INVENTORY
“The ministry realised it needed to assist Kenyans living in slum areas so that they have access primary healthcare services,” he said.
Dr Odongo said each container would have four staff including a clinical officer, two nurses and a laboratory technicians.
Health Principal Secretary Peter Tum assured the committee that the ministry will redistribute the clinics to counties. “We will be honest as possible on what we have, we will provide the inventory as you have asked. We will distribute the clinics in one month.”
