This archive report was first published on 20 October 2019.
As we reflect on the recent unveiling of the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) deal, it's hard not to draw parallels with a similar scheme that was introduced a few years ago. In 2019, the government made a decision to lease medical equipment for several hospitals, with county governments footing the bill.
Despite initial reservations from health workers and some institutions, the government pushed forward with the plan, citing the procurement of top-level equipment as a means to improve healthcare services. However, questions were raised about the cost of the programme and the value it added to the healthcare system.
One of the major concerns was that despite paying billions of shillings annually, the equipment would remain leased in perpetuity, with no ownership or control for the hospitals. Furthermore, many facilities lacked the necessary expertise to operate and maintain the equipment, leading to underutilization and waste.
Fast forward to the present, and we find ourselves facing a similar scenario with the KNH deal. A private investor is set to build a private hospital on KNH land, with the promise of generating profits to run the 'old' KNH. This convoluted logic is nothing short of astonishing, especially considering that public hospitals are supposed to be funded by taxes to provide the highest attainable standard of healthcare.
The fact that some in Parliament are supporting this deal is a stark reminder of the depths to which our body politic has sunk. Like we did four years ago, we are saying today that the KNH mega-project is a scam that will result in the senseless loss of public resources. If implemented, we shall be back here to tell you, once again, that we told you so!
