On November 22, 2018, the Senate moved to examine a Sh443 million agreement between the Isiolo county government and Living Goods after residents raised objections over how the deal was approved.
The petition, presented to the Senate Health committee through Senator Fatuma Dullo, challenges the process used to award the foreign-owned firm a contract to provide community health services. The residents say the county did not involve the public before signing the arrangement.
According to the petition, Living Goods is expected to deliver services in three subcounty hospitals for four years. The complaint also questions the basis on which the county settled on the company.
Governor Mohamed Kuti was summoned to explain the agreement, with the committee saying it would also bring in other stakeholders linked to the deal. Committee chairperson Michael Mbito, the Trans Nzoia senator, said the firm’s directors would be invited as well.
Mbito told the petitioners, “This is the right place that your issues will be addressed. The governor will appear tomorrow [today] to explain the details of the agreement,” he said.
Dullo told the committee that the county government had “colluded” with the county assembly to push the deal through. She said, “Due process was not followed and this committee should dig deeper into this issue. Public participation was not done and the Health ministry was not aware of the deal as required by the Constitution,” she said.
She added that because health is an essential public service, the county government should have consulted stakeholders, including members of the public, before committing to the arrangement.
Fred Outa of Kisumu backed the petitioners, saying, “We will do our best as Senate to protect Isiolo county and its people. Public participation is a requirement entailed in the Constitution.”
The Senate’s intervention now places the county’s procurement and approval process under scrutiny, with the committee expected to hear from the governor, the company, and other parties involved.
