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{
    "id": 807665,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/807665/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 153,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Khaniri",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 171,
        "legal_name": "George Munyasa Khaniri",
        "slug": "george-khaniri"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.46(2)(a), to make a statement on a matter of general topical concern; that is the management of health sector in the country. In the last five years since 2013, the Ministry of Health has been shrouded in corruption, mismanagement, obvious waste and disorganization in the management of public health. The First Schedule of the Constitution outlines the distribution of functions between the national and County governments. Accordingly, health is a devolved function. In the Schedule, the National Government is tasked with the development of health policies and, management of National Referral health facilities. However, this has not been the case in practice as the national Government has continually bullied the counties into signing questionable contracts. The major ones being the managed Equipment Service Contract, procurement of mobile clinics and, most recently, the hiring of Cuban doctors to serve in county hospitals. Mr. Speaker, sir, as I give this statement, the most recent has not been revealed. A report is emerging that we may have lost Kshs7 billion in purchase of Computerized Axial Tomography scan machines. It is important to examine the management of the health sector in the country in the last five years to get a better perspective of my concerns. On 10thFebruary, 2016, I sought a Statement under the then Standing Order 45 (2) (b) regarding the status and distribution, management and operation of medical equipment sourced through the Managed Equipment Service (MES) project for all the 47 Counties. At that time, the programme was shrouded in mistrust, dishonesty, high-handedness, accusations and counter-accusations. I questioned the whole rationale of having one-size-fits-all approach towards the tendering, procurement and financing of the medical equipment regardless of the specific circumstances and needs in the specific county and ignoring the procurement structures in the devolved units. Four years after the implementation of the project forcefully in some counties, the Government cannot pinpoint the value for the money in the whole exercise. It should be noted that in the response then, the Ministry of Health provided a vague answer that left much to be desired. So far, counties in totality have spent in excess of Kshs25 billion on the project yet most of the machines have remained unused to date. Some governors have come out to assert that in their counties, the machines have never been put to use because of either lack of the necessary enabling infrastructure or trained personnel or both. I hope the Senate Committee on Finance and Budget will provide more answers to the numerous questions on Kenyans’ minds today concerning the Leasing of Medical Equipment Vote in the County Allocation of revenue Bill of 2018. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}