County to spend Sh600,000 per vehicle each month according to plan

What you need to know:

  • Mr Ahmed claimed the executive flouted public procurement rules by introducing another budget, which has not been approved by the assembly.
  • However, Mr Eymoy believes he has done nothing wrong. “What is important is that we provide better and reliable service to the poor pregnant mothers and the sick, irrespective of whether we buy or lease ambulances,” said Mr Eymoy.
  • In this plan, the county will spend Sh600,000 per ambulance leased each month, to pay for medical equipment, salaries for the crews, fuel and maintenance.

A storm is brewing in Mandera County over claims that Health executive Hassan Eymoy has misappropriated millions of shillings meant to buy ambulances.

Nominated MCA Amaldin Ahmed claims even though the county assembly had approved a Sh60 million budget for the purchase of new ambulances, Mr Eymoy opted to lease the services from the Kenya Red Cross (KRCS) without consultations.

The ambulances were to be distributed to public hospitals across the county.

However, the minister yesterday came out guns blazing, insisting he had done what the assembly voted for.

“The county assembly voted for the provision of ambulance services and it’s our responsibility to provide these services, which can either be through the purchase of new ambulances or leasing them,” said Mr Eymoy.

Mr Ahmed claimed the executive flouted public procurement rules by introducing another budget, which has not been approved by the assembly.

“Why has the executive single-handedly sourced for the ambulances from the agency when the county assembly actually approved a budget for the purchase of new ambulances?” asked Mr Ahmed.

Mr Ahmed feels the executive should have informed the assembly of his plans before entering an agreement with the KRCS.

RELIABLE SERVICES

However, Mr Eymoy believes he has done nothing wrong. “What is important is that we provide better and reliable service to the poor pregnant mothers and the sick, irrespective of whether we buy or lease ambulances,” said Mr Eymoy.

“Records are at the finance department where all those who feel I have short changed the public can verify the transactions. They can also go to KRCS and check out the records, including the Memorandum of Understanding we signed with them and see that we did nothing wrong,” he added.

In this plan, the county will spend Sh600,000 per ambulance leased each month, to pay for medical equipment, salaries for the crews, fuel and maintenance.

“There should be no problem as long as we use the money for provision of needed services. As long as we are investing in an enterprise we know will help our people, that is what should matter,” added Mr Eymoy.

“We are simply providing an essential service our people have waited for since independence thanks to devolution, which has breathed a new lease of life into our health sector.”

Mr Jamaldin also accused Executive for Communication Abdiaziz Maad of misinforming MCAs over the construction and equipping of a local radio station at the cost of Sh20 million.

“Mr Maad had told the assembly the radio project would be up and running by October 30, last year but this has not happened to date,” said Mr Ahmed.

Mr Maad could not be reached for comment as he was said to be in a meeting in Nairobi.