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{
    "id": 990044,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/990044/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 82,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Mbito)",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13225,
        "legal_name": "Michael Maling'a Mbito",
        "slug": "michael-malinga-mbito"
    },
    "content": "As you may further recall, in the 2019 Budget Policy Statement Report, the Senate raised serious concerns regarding the intended procurement of Community Health Volunteer (CHV) kits and basic equipment by the national Government on behalf of the counties. The Committee, however, notes that despite the concerns raised by the Senate in its report, budgetary provisions for the provision of CHV kits and basic equipment were nonetheless included in the Ministry of Health budget for the Financial Year 2019/2020. It is further apparent to the Committee that the Intergovernmental Participation Agreements executed between the national and the county governments are in essence retrospective, as specific provisions under the Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), for example, the CHV kits and basic equipment, et cetera, had already been budgeted for under the Ministry of Health for the Financial Year 2019/2020 at a total sum of Kshs21 billion. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Committee further takes issue with the fact that under the Constitution, the Ministry of Health is assigned policy and national referral functions while the provision of community and primary healthcare services falls under the functional domain of the county governments. However, based on the Statement by the Ministry of Health, the IPAs executed between the national Government and the county governments appear to transfer specified implementation rules and functions to the Ministry of Health in the provision of primary and community health services without any reference to Parliament or the county assemblies. It not only offends the constitutional and functional assignments set out between the two levels of government, but also represents an insidious assault on devolution as a whole. Mr. Speaker, Sir, while admittedly county governors may have indeed signed the IPAs, it must be noted that the governors do not equal devolution and devolution does not equal governors. As such, the future and fate of devolved functions cannot be left to county governors to decide. As demonstrated by execution of the IPAs, the risk to devolution is too high. While the Ministry of Health should continue to play its role in the development of appropriate policies and standards and guidelines, counties must retain their implementation roles and functions. The Committee further notes with concern an apparent attempt by the Ministry of health to sanitize the special portable clinics under the UHC programme. The special portable clinics that were first implemented under the Slum Upgrading Programme in the Financial Year 2015/2016, have been a subject of investigation by the Ethics and Anti- Corruption Commission (EACC) and audit queries by the Office of the Auditor-General. Based on this and other concerns, the Committee on Health has commenced investigations on the proposed UHC upscale and will be tabling a substantive report to this House with clear recommendations. Further to this, the Committee held a meeting with the Committee on Health, the Council of Governors (CoG) and Gov. (Dr.) Mohamed Kuti earlier today, on 5th of May, with a view of addressing some of the Committees concerned. The Committee is also set to meet the Cabinet Secretary (CS) of Health, Hon. Mutahi Kagwe, as it seeks The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}