Ministry of Health Principal Secretary Susan Mochache has raised more questions in an attempt to clarify the controversial expenditure of the Ksh1 billion from the World Bank to support the country's efforts in the war against the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to a letter she released on Friday, May 1, the Health PS explained that the media had misrepresented the facts and that as of yet, no money from the international lender had been spent.
Mochache's announcement is regardless of a previous document released by the ministry portraying the allocations to various departments, complete with a tag reading 'Funds Used' vis a vis the allocated amounts.
"On Tuesday, April 28, the ministry, responding to a question of the National Assembly, tabled a report of the budget indicating that the projected expenditure of the money during the Covid-19-targeted containment period of six months.
"However, it has occurred to the ministry that sections of the media have misrepresented the budget to imply that the total amount of Ksh1 billion has already been spent and exhausted in just the first month of the campaign," she noted.
The ministry clarified that at the moment, only a small amount of the Ksh1 billion had been given to the country by the lender, contrary to reports that the entire kitty had been exhausted.
"Only a part of the Ksh1 billion has so far been received and so far no money has not [sic] been spent at all. It is, therefore, a gross misrepresentation to state that the ministry has already spent the money," Mochche stated.
She further explained that the World Bank was expected to assist the ministry for a period of six months, from April to September 2020, therefore, there was no way that the kitty could have been exhausted already.
In an attempt at transparency, the PS explained that the highest allocation in the list was Ksh735 million to be spent on the procurement of personal protection equipment (PPEs), lab testing kits, sample collection kits, and lab reagents.
"Utilization of the budget support is ongoing and that the money will be dispensed on a need basis, from time to time, over the planned period.
"The government and World Bank procedures on the utilization of donor funding will be strictly and meticulously complied with. The ministry is open to scrutiny by all relevant agencies to confirm the expenditure of the money at all time," Mochache stated.
She further stated that the Minsitry had put guidelines in place to ensure that the money was prudently spent and also to ensure that there was accountability on the part of those trusted with the funds.
