Kenya National Union of Nurses Secretary-General Seth Panyako has accused the Ministry of Health of misusing Ksh8 billion donated by World Bank.
Panyako, stated that there were plans to misuse the funds by cartels at Afya House.
"We've received information that a band of thieves at Afya House has decided to form a group that will spend this Ksh8 billion by moving around the country educating health workers on preventing the spread of the virus," stated the nurses union boss.
He asserted that such a project was unnecessary because health workers in the country were already cognizant of the measures to limit the spread of the virus.
"Every health worker in Kenya already knows how to stop the spread of Covid-19," he asserted.
Panyako stated that the real need for the funds lays in providing personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers as well as those tasked with dealing with multitudes of people.
"What we need this money to do is buy equipment to guard those at the frontlines. Like watchmen, nurses, clinical officers, and doctors," Panyako suggested.
He also offered additional proposals on how the money could be better utilised, citing that it could be channelled towards housing health personnel handling Covid-19 cases.
"We ask that the doctors and those at the frontlines, especially in Nairobi and Mbagathi, are allocated living spaces in those places until the day the spread of the virus is contained," requested Panyako.
He further noted that part of the money could also be set aside to increase monetary compensation for the personnel , placing themselves at risk to serve the country during the pandemic.
"We also ask that those at the frontlines receive additional compensation to ensure that they can eat better and bolster their health so they don't contract the virus even as they cater to the citizenry," Panyako made his appeal.
Concluding, he reiterated that he would not allow the alleged Afya House cartels to fritter away the donated funds on his watch.
"But we will not allow these groups at Afya House to move around the country spreading the virus on a purported sensitisation program," Panyako provided.
The Ksh8 billion in contention was awarded to Kenya by the World Bank on Monday, March 16.
Of this, Ksh6 billion was to be utilized in the country's fight against the novel coronavirus.
As per a statement by the World Bank, the funds would be used to enhance surveillance, laboratory services, isolation units as well as providing improved equipment, supplies, and communication services to help mitigate the spread of Covid-19 in Kenya.
