Makueni exemplary, Kiambu mum on use of Covid-19 funds
The Covid-19 treatment centre in Makueni County. Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
What you need to know:
- From its own resources, Makueni set aside Sh45 million for Covid-19.
- The county received Sh119 million from the national government, which it is yet to spend.
- Officials in Kiambu County refus From its own resources, Makueni set aside Sh45 million for Covid-19. The county received Sh119 million from the national government, which it is yet to spend. ed to respond to queries on how money was spent
As most counties opted for direct procurement, which saw companies hand-picked to supply Covid-19 materials, Makueni decided to take the open tender route.
From its own resources, Makueni set aside Sh45 million for Covid-19. The county received Sh119 million from the national government, which it is yet to spend.
Allowances
It also received Sh58 million from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) for health workers’ allowances, Sh30 million from the World Bank and Sh7.4 million from DANIDA.
So far, the county has used about Sh60 million on supplies. The companies that have been awarded tenders are: Makueni County Finescope Ltd owned by Ms Esther Kalungu, Stephen Mbuthia and Shadrack Mwangi, Mediplus Holdings Kenya co-owned by Jacinta Nundu Mutie and Onesmus Mbindyo Mwanthi, Mayleen Kenya Ltd registered in Kenya but owned by four Sri Lanka nationals – Mayean Mihindukula, Balage Maheshika, Maleena Mihindukula and Ruwan Sri.
Others are Mission For Essential Drugs Supplies (Meds), The Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa) and Crown Healthcare solutions, whose details we could not trace at the company registry.
Garissa County refused to divulge information on its suppliers. Out of their Sh41 million budget, they have spent Sh16 million on personal protective equipment and renovation of the main isolation centre.
Health chief officer Abdi Shukri told the Nation that “the county has 419 isolation beds spread across the county and, so far, about 200,000 masks have been procured by the county”.
Machakos County was among the first counties outside Nairobi to set up an isolation centre for Covid-19 patients.
Grant
It has set aside about Sh50 million in addition to a grant of Sh188 million from the national government and has spent about Sh100 million, with the bulk of the money going to PPEs, according Health chief officer Lucas Mwove.
Like Makueni County, the Alfred Mutua-led county also sourced supplies from Kemsa, Meds and Crown Health Care solutions. A new addition, Biomed, wasn’t listed with the Registrar of Companies.
Kajiado County is using its facility at the Isinya Vocational Centre to make hospital beds.
It is at the same facility that Dr Ezekiel Kapkoni, the director of medical services, says masks and sanitisers are being made. Other supplies that cannot be made were procured.
In Kiambu County, officials refused to respond to queries on how they are spending money meant for Covid-19.
