This archive report was first published on 1 July 2020.
On July 1, 2020, the Budget and Appropriations Committee (BAC) of the Kenyan Parliament made a crucial decision to reallocate Sh2 billion for the purchase of Covid-19 testing kits and chemical reagents.
The funds, initially set aside for hiring health workers, were redirected to the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) and the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) to support Covid-19 related expenditure.
Kemsa received Sh1.5 billion for the procurement of kits and reagents, while KMTC was allocated Sh500 million to support the isolation of coronavirus asymptomatic patients at its centres.
Lawmakers had previously rejected a reallocation of Sh1.5 billion from the Sh3 billion ring-fenced for referral hospitals to Kemsa, citing investigations into the agency's purchase of substandard reagents and personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers.
However, after a meeting with the Principal Secretary, the BAC vice chairperson, Moses Lesonet, moved amendments to the Third Supplementary Budget, stating, 'The PS met us and convinced us to reallocate Sh2 billion that had initially been set aside for hiring of health workers. The money meant for salaries was not spent.'
