Governors fault State for sending cash to hospitals
What you need to know:
- He said development partners like the World Bank, Danida and the national government agreed that devolved governments could release money to hospitals while awaiting reimbursement in order to avoid double funding.
- Mr Terada said the dispensary was one of the 10 projects identified by the Japanese Government for funding out of 440 applications from across Kenya.
- He said development partners like the World Bank, Danida and the national government agreed that devolved governments could release money to hospitals while awaiting reimbursement in order to avoid double funding.
- Mr Ruto said the Council of Governors would report the matter to the National Treasury and the Senate.
The government was Sunday criticised for sending money directly to hospitals.
Council of Governors Chairman Isaac Ruto said by doing so, the government was contravening the Public Finance Management Act .
“The Ministry of Health has broken the law by sending money for operations and maintenance directly to hospitals instead of depositing it to County Revenue Fund Accounts,” Mr Ruto said.
The Bomet Governor said county governments were considering seeking legal redress.
He said development partners like the World Bank, Danida and the national government agreed that devolved governments could release money to hospitals while awaiting reimbursement in order to avoid double funding.
Mr Ruto said the Council of Governors would report the matter to the National Treasury and the Senate.
He said the Public Finance Management Act applied to national and county governments.
“The law says public funds can only be spent with the approval of the Controller of Budget,” Mr Ruto added.
He was speaking at Kiptulwa Dispensary during the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a Sh7.9 maternity wing.
It is funded by the Japanese Government through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects.
Mr Yuki Yamana, the First Secretary in charge of Economic Affairs at the Japanese Embassy, represented the ambassador, Tatsushi Terada.
The function was also attended by Deputy Governor Stephen Mutai.
HEALTH COMPLICATIONS
Mr Terada said the dispensary was one of the 10 projects identified by the Japanese Government for funding out of 440 applications from across Kenya.
Some of the money would also be used to buy medical equipment for the ward.
“Many women deliver at home, a situation that can lead to health complications. When construction is complete, the quality of services will improve,” Mr Terada said.
Mr Ruto also said governors wanted more resources to enable them perform functions spelt out in the Constitution.
He said they appreciated the allocation of Sh5 billion Emergency Fund though “this is not enough”.
“We urge the Senate to ensure the increment of allocations because of the monumental functions county governments have been assigned,” he said.
