Nandi health CEC grilled over alleged misuse of Sh180M Covid cash.
Nandi County Executive Committee Member for Health Ruth Koech was on Friday questioned by the County Assembly over how Sh180 million set aside to fight the Covid-19 pandemic was spent.
In the session presided over by county assembly Deputy Speaker Wilson Sang, Koech was asked to shed light on the expenditure of the said amount.
“There are critical issues to be addressed by the CEC. What the members of the county assembly are pointing out are surprising figures indicated in the health report that was signed by the finance department,” he said.
The CECM was at pains to explain to the county assembly why 143 infrared thermometers was procured at a cost of over Sh2.5 million, translating to Sh18,000 each against the market price of Sh4,500 each.
At the same time, Koech was put to task over 120 Blood pressure testing apparatus which were allegedly procured at double the price of Sh7,000 per piece.
She was also questioned over repair works for three water pumps at Mosoriot and Chepterwai centres at Sh350,000 each.
Tindiret MCA Kipkirui Chepkwony further demanded the assembly be furnished with equipment procurement records to establish the legality of the procurement process.
“It is not about equipping the health centres; what has been brought to our attention is the questionable disregard of the procurement regulations and mismanagement of public funds in the guise of fighting the pandemic,” he said.
Koech explained that high demand for some of the equipment purchased had pushed up the costs.
In March, the county Assembly passed a supplementary budget allocating Sh181M to the County Emergency Fund (CEF) to enable the county to enhance medical health system in preparation for any case of Covid-19.
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