This archive report was first published on 23 October 2019.
Kenya's Sh38 billion Managed Equipment Services (MES) deal has hit a snag, with medical equipment worth billions lying idle in 27 counties.
According to documents tabled before the Senate committee, the equipment was procured between 2008 and 2014, but many of the facilities that received them lack the necessary infrastructure to support their use.
Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki denied the claims, stating that a need assessment was conducted before the equipment was procured and that discussions on their distribution were laborious.
However, members of the committee, led by Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo, were unconvinced by the CS's response.
Nominated Senator Mary Seneta accused the ministry of forcing counties to pay for equipment that is not working, saying, "MES is not working in 27 counties. Why are counties paying for what they are not using? What is the hurry for paying for these equipment, yet they have not been commissioned, tested or helped anyone. Why are we paying?"
Documents tabled before the committee show that the equipment was 'dumped' in 21 hospitals, and remained non-commissioned.
Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula added that there was no consultation between the ministry and counties because the equipment were delivered in facilities that lacked basic infrastructure.
"As far as Human Resources is concerned, the ministry is not supposed to deploy personnel," he said.
Despite the CS's claims of a need assessment, the senator pointed out that the ministry had identified critical challenges in provision of personnel in its report.
