Ruto rejects medical equipment

What you need to know:

  • Mr Ruto also accused Health Secretary James Macharia of failing to engage them on the deal and for skipping a Naivasha governors’ meet last week.
  • The governors spoke at Otieno Oyoo High School in Kisumu County during the homecoming ceremony of governor Jack Ranguma.
  • To help counties get a proposed 45 per cent of the annual budget, Mr Ruto asked Kenyans to support the Pesa Mashinani drive that is being revived by the council led by new chairman Peter Munya.

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto and his Kakamega counterpart Wycliffe Oparanya Saturday vowed not to sign the deal on leasing of medical equipment saying that it was suspect.

Mr Ruto said that the national government is duping governors on the Sh38 billion medical equipment deal.

He questioned why counties were being asked to pay Sh95 million each year for eight years, which adds up to Sh760 million yet the purchase price of the equipment was Sh180 million.
“The contract on medical lease was pushed down our throats on the last day. The national government has failed to explain what this medical equipment is all about,” said Mr Ruto.

Mr Ruto also accused Health Secretary James Macharia of failing to engage them on the deal and for skipping a Naivasha governors’ meet last week.

“Let the government allow us to explain what kind of equipment we want in the counties because it is the governors who know what they want,” said Mr Ruto. The government has defended the deal and 35 counties have already signed up.

The county chiefs also accused the national government of frustrating devolution and lying to Kenyans about release of certain key functions to the devolved units.

Mr Ruto, immediate former Council of governors chairman, said that there was serious propaganda being propelled by the national government through use of corruption charges against county chiefs in what he said was a ploy to harass governors in their discharge of functions.

HOMECOMING

The governors spoke at Otieno Oyoo High School in Kisumu County during the homecoming ceremony of governor Jack Ranguma.
Under the medical equipment deal, two hospitals in each county will get dialysis and cancer screening machines.

Governors David Nkedianye (Kajiado), Issa Timamy (Lamu) have also refused to sign the deal. However, Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua has signed the contract.

Governor Ruto also scoffed at statements by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto that counties must take care of money given to them before asking for more.
“Those asking us with the money they gave us are lying. That money do not belong to them. No one has given us money, it is not a favour,” said governor Ruto.

Mr Oparanya said: “We want more funds and we cannot backtrack on devolution now.”

To help counties get a proposed 45 per cent of the annual budget, Mr Ruto asked Kenyans to support the Pesa Mashinani drive that is being revived by the council led by new chairman Peter Munya.

Governor Ruto said that it was wrong for DP Ruto to tell a section of Rift Valley leaders to go slow on their criticisms on the government saying that the ruling coalition was supposed to cater for all the tribes.
“We do not mind where the next leader will come from, we just want the best leader as President,” said Mr Ruto.