Pressure is mounting on the Health ministry and the National Treasury to account for the Covid-19 billion amid claims that tenderpreneurs lined up their pockets in bungled procurement deals.
Kenyans, the global community and well-wishers have been donating billions of shillings since the pandemic was declared in March.
More than Sh220 billion has so far been received from various international sources.
The World Bank disbursed Sh108 billion for Covid-19 related interventions days before the International Monetary Fund added Sh78 billion.
The WB also sent Sh8.6 billion to the ministry for direct health interventions.
Some Sh22 billion was extended by the African Development Bank and Sh7.5 billion by the European Union.
On Wednesday lawmakers said Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe and his National Treasury counterpart Ukur Yatani should shed light on how the monies have been spent.
Gilgil MP Martha Wangari petitioned the Health ministry to list all supplies bought with the emergency monies.
“Could the Cabinet Secretary further provide an itemized listing of all the expenditures made from the said Fund as of July 1, 2020?” Wangari asked.
She further wants Kagwe to disclose how much had been received into the Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund kitty as of July 1.
The Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund, which is chaired by KBL managing director Jane Karuku, is domiciled at the National Treasury.
The Fund comprises cash and rations received to cushion vulnerable populations from the adverse effects of the Covid-19.
Some Sh2.8 billion had been received into the kitty as of August 4, according to the Fund’s website.
Karuku recently said Sh500 million will be disbursed to vulnerable communities, Sh237 million for PPEs, Sh95 million for mental health medics, and Sh1.3 million for face masks to vulnerable communities.
Soy MP Caleb Kositany was concerned that the government is yet to respond to questions he raised on Covid-19 expenses in April.
The Jubilee deputy secretary had sought clarity on the expenditure of Sh1 billion received from the World Health Organisation.
“Now that we have serious exposures on misuse of monies meant to safeguard the lives of Kenyans hurt by Covid-19, I think it is time these questions are answered in detail so that we follow up on the use of funds,” the MP said.
He had also asked why the National Intelligence Service was allocated Sh3.5 billion for contact tracing, ‘yet that is their job.’
Kositany further wanted disclosure of the amounts collected from citizens who had paid for quarantine.
He also demanded a report on the amount of tax refunds made by the Kenya Revenue Authority.
Further, he wanted to know how many elderly persons have been paid the Covid-19 reliefs and how the beneficiaries were identified.
He demanded a statement on how much has been paid to SMEs to cushion their businesses from the pandemic and the number of health workers recruited so far.
Finance committee chairperson Gladys Wanga, whose committee was tasked with the query before she took over from Kipkelion East MP Joseph Limo, said the matter would be looked into.
“We shall look at the question and whether it is proper before our committee. We should not encourage the use of newspaper reports as a basis for agitation. This House doesn’t allow us to do so,” the Homa Bay Woman Representative said.
The concerns came amid reports Kenyans could have lost billions of shillings in fraudulent Covid-19 procurement.
Kenya Medical Supplies Agency on Tuesday defended itself against claims it engaged in direct procurement of personal protective equipment for health workers.
Kemsa denied in a press statement that it bought N95 and KN95 face masks at above-market prices.
“As of March 2020, N95 masks retailed at Sh1,200 while KN95 market price was Sh700 (a piece). The prices have since gone down owing to the laws of supplies and demand,” the agency said.
Kemsa held that the Sh700 and Sh450 prices for N95 and KN95 masks as quoted in media reports are the current market rates.
It also defended itself against claims of direct procurement, citing the circumstances under which it awarded tenders to the bidders.
The lawmakers questioned how newly-registered companies came to be awarded the tenders for the crucial medical supplies.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau recently cried foul over non-clarity in the expenditure of funds to mitigate Covid-19.
“It is regrettable that the government’s contact tracing has collapsed. There is no access to proper care and even more tragic is that there is no medical insurance cover for the virus,” Kamau who had tested positive for the disease said.