The Senate has called Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki to account for a medical equipment leasing deal that has become increasingly controversial for counties.
The arrangement was meant to help county referral hospitals get fairly priced equipment and reduce referrals to Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi University Referral Hospital in Eldoret. Instead, it has drawn complaints from governors who say they were brought into a contract they did not properly understand.
Concerns have also been raised that some of the equipment is being delivered to facilities that lack the staff, infrastructure or installation capacity needed to use it effectively.
The latest dispute centres on the rising cost of the lease, which senators say is pushing counties deeper into debt. That has intensified scrutiny of a programme that was presented as a practical fix for health service gaps at county level.
Health delivery remains one of the toughest responsibilities for county governments. While there has been some improvement in facilities at the grassroots, the system still faces problems in staffing, equipment use and coordination with the national government.
The central government continues to exercise significant influence over health management, a situation that has repeatedly put it at odds with counties. At the same time, counties have struggled to manage medical personnel and make full use of the equipment they receive.
For critics, the leasing deal now looks like a costly mistake in the making. They warn that counties could end up paying heavily for machines that remain underused, with little value for taxpayers.
The Senate is being urged to press for answers and examine the contract closely before the problem worsens. The deal, they say, should be thoroughly interrogated and the disputed issues resolved.
