Kenyan senators have launched an investigation into the National Equipment Support Programme (NESP), demanding transparency regarding the suppliers contracted to lease medical equipment to county hospitals. The probe follows concerns that the contracts, signed by all 47 governors, were awarded to seven undisclosed firms without a competitive bidding process.
The NESP, which was introduced in December 2023, replaced the controversial Medical Equipment Service (MES) scheme. Its goal is to improve healthcare services in county hospitals by providing essential medical equipment for surgery, radiology, and intensive care units. Unlike previous arrangements, NESP operates on a fee-for-service model, meaning that counties do not pay upfront for the equipment but instead allocate funds for maintenance and upgrades.
By October 2024, all county governors had signed agreements with the Ministry of Health, formalizing the leasing arrangements. However, some leaders, such as Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, who also serves as the Council of Governors (CoG) deputy chairperson, have expressed concerns that counties were pressured into signing the contracts without knowing the identities of the vendors involved.
Despite Health Cabinet Secretary and CoG Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi insisting that the process was above board, senators have raised serious concerns about the secrecy surrounding the supplier selection. Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has argued that the terms of the contracts are overly burdensome for counties, with some expected to allocate up to 60% of their health budgets toward the agreements.
“We as a Senate need to focus on these contracts, and I urge the Health Committee to ensure this is done so that our people can access proper health services,” Sifuna stated.
Nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana has also insisted that the government must provide a detailed breakdown of payments made under NESP, including deductions from county budgets. She has demanded clarity on the role of both county governments and the CoG in negotiating these agreements, emphasizing the need for compliance with public procurement laws.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has gone further, calling for a commission of inquiry into the state of county health facilities. He highlighted worsening conditions in hospitals across regions such as Nandi, Mombasa, Turkana, and Kisii, where equipment shortages and maintenance failures have left patients without critical services.
“In Nandi County, my people are suffering. Out of the 196 facilities, including Kapsabet County Referral Hospital and Level Four hospitals, there is nothing to write home about,” Cherargei lamented.
Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana has questioned why counties are still making payments under NESP agreements while much of the equipment remains dysfunctional. He accused the national government of overstepping its mandate, arguing that healthcare is constitutionally a devolved function.
“One of the issues raised is equipment maintenance. If a machine breaks down, it takes a whole year to fix it. Additional equipment is brought in, only for it to malfunction again. For instance, a repairman scheduled to fix equipment at Hola County Referral Hospital only arrived two weeks ago after two years,” Mungatana revealed.
Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina has called for transparency in the investigation and proposed site visits to all 47 counties to assess the actual state of healthcare infrastructure under NESP.
“In the last parliament, we uncovered a massive scandal with the MES scheme. Now, counties are leasing equipment, but hospitals lack medicine, and many facilities are in a deplorable state. We must hold our governors accountable. This is unacceptable,” he stated.
The Senate Health Committee is expected to push for a full disclosure of the contract details and the identities of the firms involved. Additionally, the committee aims to ensure that the medical equipment supplied meets required standards and is adequately maintained to serve patients effectively.
The Senate’s probe into NESP could have significant implications for Kenya’s healthcare system, particularly in ensuring that public funds are used transparently and efficiently. If the investigation uncovers irregularities, it may lead to calls for renegotiation or cancellation of the contracts.
As scrutiny intensifies, county governments, the Ministry of Health, and the CoG must address these concerns to restore public confidence in Kenya’s healthcare sector. The coming weeks will likely determine whether NESP succeeds in its mission or becomes yet another controversial program marred by secrecy and inefficiencies.
