Senate asked to investigate Health Fund inequality and costly Green Park underpass
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has called on the Senate to launch immediate investigations into suspected inconsistencies in the distribution of funds under the Social Health Insurance Fund and the expenditure on the Sh2 billion Green Park pedestrian underpass in Nairobi.
Addressing the Senate during a request for statements on Thursday, Onyonka pressed the Health and Transport Committees to thoroughly examine the two issues, raising concerns about transparency and responsible management of public funds.
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Onyonka questioned the logic behind the wide funding gaps between public hospitals under the SHA programme.
He noted that while some Level 5 hospitals were allocated upwards of Sh30 million, others were given only Sh2,000, despite serving similar public health roles.
He also highlighted the need for clarity regarding the Sh104 billion digital system that is supposed to support the scheme.
“There is no uniformity. You cannot explain why a hospital in Embu gets millions while another in Vihiga receives next to nothing. This calls for a full audit,” he said.
The senator asked the Health Committee to investigate whether the Health Ministry followed the right procedures in implementing the SHA programme and rolling out the technology platform.
On infrastructure, Onyonka demanded answers on how the government arrived at the Sh2 billion figure for the Green Park pedestrian underpass.
He questioned whether feasibility assessments were done and whether procurement was handled properly.
“Kenyans need to understand how such an amount was justified for a project that appears ordinary at best,” he stated, suggesting the figure may have been inflated.
The project, located at the junction of Uhuru Highway and Haile Selassie Avenue, is being undertaken by the Kenya National Highways Authority and is currently 88 per cent complete.
It is designed to provide a safe and efficient route for pedestrians beneath one of Nairobi’s busiest intersections, linking Uhuru Park, the Nairobi Railways Station and Haile Selassie Avenue to the city centre without the need to cross chaotic roadways.
The underpass, expected to open in four months, will include well-lit corridors, CCTV cameras, and retail outlets, similar to multipurpose tunnels found in major global cities.
It is also aimed at easing traffic congestion around the CBD by improving both pedestrian and vehicular flow through a modern, design-led approach.
He said the Senate must take steps to ensure fairness and accountability, warning that failure to act could deepen public distrust in government spending.
Onyonka maintained that both the health and transport matters must be treated with urgency and transparency.
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