Governors refuse to sign off on Uhuru's Sh38b health kit

From Left, Likuyani Mp Enoch Kibunguchy, Kakamega County Governor Wycliffe Oparanya jointly cut a tape to officially launch a Oparanya Care Program at Likuyani Sub- County hospital on February 20,2015. Through Kakamega County projects funds, Oparanya donated an ambulance to the hospital. Looking on is Oparanya's Deputy, Philip Kutima (right) and Kakamega County Chief of staff, Nabii Nabwera (second right). By Benjamin Sakwa [STANDARD]

Kenya: Three governors from the Western region claim the national government is yet to give them relevant information on the Sh38 billion health equipment it procured recently.

Kakamega's Wycliffe Oparanya, Sospeter Ojaamong of Busia and Vihiga's Moses Akaranga say lack of information has left them in darkness as they cannot establish if the equipment is fake and if proper procurement laws were followed.

They say they will not sign up to the healthcare plan which was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Under the programme, the Government plans to have at least two hospitals in each of the 47 counties furnished with intensive care units, cancer diagnosis and treatment equipment, dialysis machines and other equipment by the end of May this year.

The cancer treatment equipment will cost Sh21.8 billion, the renal devices Sh2.2 billion, ICU equipment Sh3.3 billionand the theatres Sh12 billion. The laboratory equipment, which will be tendered later, will cost Sh2.7 billion.

Speaking in Matunda yesterday, Mr Oparanya reiterated that he will not sign for the equipment because governors were not involved in the procurement process, which he claimed cost ten times above the normal market price.

"We cannot agree to be part of a crooked process that has cost Kenyans billions of shillings. The cost of leasing the equipment for 10 years is enough to buy our own equipment over a period of three years," Oparanya said.

Mr Ojaamong of Busia said they will not accept the equipment because the Government has not disclosed all the information.

He wondered why the Government single-sourced for the supplier without subjecting the award to a competitive tendering process.

"We are not against the Government's move to procure health equipment but we are not satisfied with the process which it used to procure them," said Ojaamong.

Mr Akaranga said even though it is a noble idea, the governors were not consulted and hence they are reluctant to accept the process.

"The Constitution provides for consultation. We expected the Government to consult us but we were not consulted," Akaranga said.