A storm is brewing around the Ministry of Health’s multi-billion-shilling budget as senators demand a thorough audit, citing grave concerns about alleged wasteful spending, duplication of efforts, and questionable financial practices. The ministry’s leadership, including Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa and Principal Secretaries Harry Kimtai and Mary Muthoni, found themselves under intense scrutiny during a charged meeting at Parliament Buildings. The senators insisted on transparency and accountability, especially regarding the release of Sh3.4 billion intended for the hiring of over 8,000 workers under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) initiative.
The lawmakers expressed outrage over budget allocations that appear to overlap with county government responsibilities, raising the alarm over Sh990 million allocated to health facilities and a staggering Sh29 billion for county-level projects. Nominated Senator Mariam Omar highlighted a specific budget line, vote D1082, comprising Sh29 billion for these county projects, questioning why the State Department of Health is taking on roles constitutionally assigned to county governments.
A particularly contentious point was the vast disparity in regional funding allocations. For example, Uasin Gishu County reportedly received Sh700 million, while Turkana County was allocated a mere Sh70 million. Senate Health Committee Chair Jackson Mandago questioned the legitimacy of these allocations, suggesting that they might not genuinely stem from presidential directives, despite being presented as such.
Further complicating matters was an almost Sh2 billion allocation for county-employed doctors. Senators were baffled by this inclusion, as the payment of county doctors should be handled through respective county payrolls, not national allocations. Mandago pressed for clarity, asking how the Ministry justifies paying for staff employed by counties, pointing out the confusion and potential for misuse of funds.
Adding fuel to the fire was a significant increase in the budget for the State Department of Medical Services. In just one year, the department’s recurrent expenditure ballooned from Sh91 billion to a requested Sh350 billion. However, the actual allocation in the budget policy statement was Sh172 billion. Mandago, visibly agitated, questioned the need for such a dramatic increase, implying that the figures might be exaggerated or unjustified.
Senators also revisited the constitutional mandate, asserting that county health services are the sole responsibility of county governments as per Schedule 4 of the Constitution. This raised fundamental concerns about the Ministry’s involvement in county-level projects and the blurred lines of accountability.
Amid this heated debate, the operations of the Social Health Authority (SHA) also came under scrutiny. Despite 20.5 million registered members, only five million are active contributors. SHA CEO Robert Ingasira faced criticism for his lack of public visibility and unclear communication regarding SHA’s functions. Senators, including Kisii’s Richard Onyonka and Kilifi’s Stewart Madzayo, criticized Ingasira’s absence in public discourse, noting that the public remains largely unaware of SHA’s role and operations.
The structure of SHA itself was questioned, with Senator Mandago inquiring whether SHA is being implemented by the CEO or by the Ministry. Senator Ledama Olekina further challenged the decision to place SHA under the State Department of Medical Services, arguing that it should operate independently for greater accountability. PS Kimtai responded that SHA operates under delegated responsibilities from the ministry and, as a state agency, will handle these functions accordingly.
As the debate rages, the Health Ministry’s leadership faces growing pressure to provide detailed explanations and justifications for its budgetary decisions, with senators signaling their intent to hold the ministry accountable and ensure public funds are used efficiently and transparently.
