Editorial: Severely punish thieves of pandemic war cash
What you need to know:
- Kenya has recorded more than 22,000 infections with about 400 losing their lives.
Moreover, multi-million-shilling equipment donated by Chinese billionaire Jack Ma was stolen right at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
The pain visited by the Covid-19 pandemic on humanity is unprecedented. Thousands of lives have been lost, millions impaired by the disease, economies battered and all other aspects of life grounded. Kenya has recorded more than 22,000 infections with about 400 losing their lives. The economy has contracted, businesses have collapsed and many people lost jobs.
Yet in the thick of this pain some charlatans are making gains from Covid-19. They are literally dancing on people’s graves.
On the spot are the Ministry of Health, Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) and a creed of shadowy business people, among them politicians and wheeler-dealers, who have schemed to steal the pandemic mitigation funds.
Since the government announced the first case of coronavirus infection in March, it has received billions from donors to deal with the crisis.
Cumulatively, the country had obtained some Sh223 billion by end of last month. Simultaneously, the National Treasury froze expenditure on non-essential activities and redirected the cash to the Health ministry.
HUGE SUMS
The huge sums of cash, if well used, could equip hospitals, procure protective gear for health workers and subsidise cost of treatment for those infected.
However, what followed the fundraising was theft and outright wastage. Huge sums of the money have been misappropriated. For one, the Health ministry is on the radar for misuse of Sh1.3 billion from the World Bank.
Similarly, Kemsa, which is charged with procuring medical stuff for the government and counties, has been indicted for irregular tendering, awarding huge contracts to dubious characters who cannot deliver. Moreover, multi-million-shilling equipment donated by Chinese billionaire Jack Ma was stolen right at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
While some cases are being investigated by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), we demand that they be expedited and culprits charged in court. Further, the EACC should rein in all other suspects reap from people’s misery.
The fate for those with the audacity to steal cash and equipment for managing deadly pandemic is severe punishment.
