The International Centre for Policy and Conflict (ICPC) on Tuesday, May 12, highlighted contradictory positions from within the Ministry of Health on budget expenditure.
In a scathing statement seen by Kenyans.co.ke, ICPC tore into the national government over the lack of transparency surrounding the Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund.
"The government has adopted a 'harambee’ approach to funding Covid-19 response. This is very a weak and ineffective approach. Further, there are contradictory positions from within the Ministry of Health on budget expenditure.
"Nobody knows which budget has been allocated for what. This has raised grave concerns among Kenyans who are demanding open accountability," reads the press statement in part.
Nevertheless, ICPC advised President Uhuru Kenyatta to take advantage of the current crisis to forge the path to a more inclusive future.
"History shows that crises can also be times of political renewal and stronger transparency and accountability which can strengthen the social contract.
"We note with concern that budget accountability systems have gaps even when they operate under less extreme conditions. The latest Open Budget Survey (OBS) finds that some of the weakest aspects of budget transparency and oversight are the ones that will be most critical for monitoring public resources during this emergency including disconnects between policies and budgets," the press release reads in part.
On Wednesday, April 1, President Uhuru established the Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund to mobilise resources for containing the spread, effects and impact of the pandemic that has claimed the lives of 33 Kenyans as at May 11.
On May 6, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the disbursement of about Ksh73.9 billion to be drawn under the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF).
"This will help to meet Kenya’s urgent balance of payments need stemming from the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic," the IMF stated at the time.
However, on the very day, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed excited his colleagues with his sensational calls for the government to account for Covid-19 expenditure or cede power.
"The government must account for this money shilling by shilling, penny by penny. This country is known for people who enrich themselves through miseries. They are known and are in offices.
"These Covid-19 funds should be accounted for in this house. People are shamelessly discussing tea and mandazi worth Ksh4 million while people are dying out of hunger and Corona," he stated.
Billions of donations down the line and Kenyans have raised questions as to the accuracy of the records being shared out by the national government.
