Health Ministry budget under fire as Senators demand audit

Senators are calling for a full overhaul and audit of the Ministry of Health’s multi-billion-shilling budget, citing concerns over wasteful spending, duplication of allocations, and mismanagement of funds.

During a tense meeting in Parliament Buildings with Health Cabinet Secretary Debora Barasa and Principal Secretaries Harry Kimtai (Medical Services) and Mary Muthoni (Public Health), senators demanded the release of Sh3.4 billion to hire more than 8,000 universal health coverage workers.

The senators raised concerns about excessive allocations to projects that fall under county governments, including Sh990 million earmarked for health facilities and Sh29 billion for county-level projects.

“There is a vote of D1082, which comprises Sh29 billion for county projects which the state department is undertaking,” said Nominated Senator Mariam Omar.

The allocations, which stem from presidential directives, sparked outrage due to their perceived imbalance.

Senators pointed to disparities in funding, noting that Uasin Gishu received Sh700 million while Turkana got Sh70 million.

“The ones in the list that you are telling us are presidential directives might not be presidential directives, but they are there under the guise of a presidential directive,” said Senate Health Committee Chairperson Jackson Mandago.

They also questioned a nearly Sh2 billion allocation for doctors employed by county governments.

“Payment of doctors is done through the payroll. How do you pay doctors who are employed by the counties?” Mandago posed.

Another major concern was the sharp rise in recurrent expenditure. The budget for the State Department of Medical Services grew by 98 per cent in one year, from Sh91 billion in the current financial year to a request of Sh350 billion.

However, only Sh172 billion was allocated in the budget policy statement.

“If you survived with an allocation of Sh91 billion in the current financial year, why is your requirement Sh350 billion? Do you need that money, or are we putting in figures that are scary for no good reason?” Mandago questioned.

The senators emphasized that the Constitution assigns county health services to county governments, making the Ministry of Health’s involvement in these projects questionable.

“Schedule 4 of the Constitution is very clear. County governments are attached to the responsibility of county health services,” Olekina reiterated.

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• Health Ministry budget under fire as Senators demand audit
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The concerns come amid ongoing scrutiny of the Social Health Authority (SHA), which has faced criticism for inefficiencies and funding gaps. SHA CEO Robert Ingasira revealed that while 20.5 million people are registered, only about five million actively contribute.

Senators questioned whether SHA, placed under the Ministry of Health as a semi-autonomous government agency, should be independently managed.

“I am a senator and I don’t understand what you are doing. How do you expect a villager to understand what you are doing? And you are sitting there saying you have been on TV, you have never been on TV,” Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka said, accusing Ingasira of being absent in public discussions.

“I also want to confirm that the CEO SHA must be a very mysterious person because I have not seen him. I have not heard him say anything. Everything has been left to the CS, and I think there are some things that the CEO is supposed to clarify to the public,” Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo added.

Senator Mandago also challenged the structure of SHA under the Ministry of Health. “Are you (SHA CEO) the one implementing SHA, or is it the ministry doing it?” he asked.

Senator Olekina questioned why SHA was placed under the State Department of Medical Services instead of operating as an independent authority.

PS Kimtai defended the move, explaining that SHA functions under delegated responsibilities from the ministry.

“The creation of SHA under the SHIF Act performs the functions that are delegated, which are the functions of the State Department for Medical Services. But as an authority, they will be handling those functions as a state agency,” he stated.