Businessman and Nairobi gubernatorial aspirant, Richard Ngatia, has shared exclusive details of business deals he signed with the National Metropolitan Services (NMS).
During an interview on Spice FM on Tuesday, April 5, the Managing director of Megascope Healthcare Ltd, disclosed that the company was contracted to build 19 hospitals within the county.
16 of them, Ngatia stated, were already completed. He also noted that his firm was tasked with training staff working in the hospitals.
The Jubilee Party aspirant, moreover, defended the contracts stating that the company was able to deliver the project in time.
'As Megascope we were able to get 19 hospitals while the rest out of the 24 are being done by NMS themselves through previous contractors.
"Within 9 months we were able to complete 16 hospitals that are running. That entails building, equipping, and training personnel," he stated.
Ngatia, a confidant of President Uhuru Kenyatta, added that he would continue working with the County Government and NMS in the event he is elected as governor in August.
He explained that he would separate his role as the county boss and those of his business enterprises to avoid conflict of interest.
"My interest is not to assume power to do business with the county. My interest is to ensure that Nairobians get services.
"Megascope is its own entity and the governor's office will be its own entity working with the county. We not only work with one client but also with private hospitals too. It is not a matter of life and death if we do not work with NMS," he stated.
Additionally, he refuted claims that Megascope directly benefitted from the controversial Medical Equipment Service (MES) project in 2013 that was undertaken by the national government and the devolved units.
Ngatia, who is also the President of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), insisted that the company did not receive funds directly from the government as they were subcontracted by an international firm.
"It was mandatory then that these companies have a local component and that is where Megascope came in. We partnered with a Chinese company and we have worked with them since 2006," he stated.
