President William Ruto has come out to defend the multi-billion medical equipment program to county government following complains raised by Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga.
Speaking on Thursday from Kilifi County, the Head of State told the Governors that none of them was forced to sign for the program and that it was a voluntary scheme.
“Anybody who says they were forced by the national government to sign whatever contract, they are conmen and liars.
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No one is under any obligation to sign with the contractor or contractors, there are 7 of them, I think. No Governor was forced. Mung’aro is here, Abdulswamad is here, you’d be a fool to be forced to sign the wrong thing and then come and talk about it. Kwani wewe ni mjinga kiasi gani?” he said
The news follows revelation to the Senate’s health committee by Governor Kahiga who said that they were coerced into signing the National Equipment Service Project (NESP).
“Did we have a choice? The program is even open to private facilities. What happens if you don’t join? Did we have a choice?” he said
The Senate also raised concerns as to whether there was involvement of the national government to awarding the contract to the seven suppliers, questions that were denied by President William Ruto.
“There will be no fraud. We have costed the equipment, we have costed the medicine, there was a procurement process between the counties and the Ministry of Health. There is no obligation for any county to get equipment from any suppliers,” said the President
At the same time, the Ministry of Health and Council of Governors issued a statement affirming that under the model vendors will supply, maintain, and upgrade the equipment at no cost.
After the President’s statement, the Council of Governors chair noted that health remains devolved and that the national government should not interfere with it.
The National Equipment Services Program which came in to replace the controversial Medical Equipment Services (MES) which saw counties receive dysfunctional medical equipment leading to the loss of billions with little or no return.
