Auditor General Edward Ouko has revealed that the Ministry of Health cannot account for Sh11 billion allocated to it.
In a report, Ouko stated that in the 2015/2016 financial year, the cash was paid out for goods and services that were not delivered such as container mobile clinics, medical supplies, equipment and expansion works of hospitals in contravention of the Public Finance Management Act.
Ouko further states that the Sh10 billion deposits that were held in former ministries were never transferred to the new ministry’s deposit account despite a circular issued by the National Treasury in September 2013 directing their transfers.
“The circular required deposits in former ministries to be analysed and transferred to a new account,” he remarks.
[caption caption="Auditor General Edward Ouko"]
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According to the Nation, there were several stalled projects including the proposed upgrading of Othaya District Hospital and this ate into the ministry’s budget.
Works on floors, walls, windows, ceilings, doors, internal and external paintings and ramps were not completed.
These findings come at a crucial time as Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich on Wednesday admitted that the government had no money.
"The government has no money. We are broke," stated Rotich.
He, however, changed tune a few hours later stating that he was misquoted.
Addressing journalists on Thursday, the CS maintained that in his statement before the Senate Finance Committee, he meant that Kenya was experiencing a shortfall of revenue to the tune of Sh84 Billion.
CS Rotich dared members of the fourth estate stating: "Tell me of a government that has ever gone broke?”
[caption caption="Treasury CS Henry Rotich"]
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