PS Kimtai: Treasury ignored Ruto's request for health project funds

Health CS Susan Nakhumicha with Principle Secretary Medical Services Harry Kimtai before the Senate Health Committee. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

The Ministry of Health has accused the National Treasury of ignoring President William Ruto's directive.

Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Harry Kimtai, told the National Assembly Parliamentary Committee on Health that a request for about Sh8.2 billion for projects under the presidential directive was not honoured despite correspondences from the Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service Felix Koskei.

The directives include funding for equipping and improvement of the Chepkemel and Chepsaita dispensaries in Uasin Gishu at the tune of Sh40 million.

Another directive relates to the funding for the upgrading of Chuka County Referral Hospital to Level Five and enabling the facility operationalise its high-dependency unit and the intensive care unit. The project was to cost Sh100 million.

In Mombasa, the directive, dated November 8 last year, targeted modernisation of an unnamed health facility to a Level Four hospital at Sh5 billion.

“The Head of Public Service has requested the Ministry to effect implementation of a Presidential pronouncement that directed funding provision of Ksh 50 Million for construction of an ICU at Kinango Level IV Hospital,” added a letter read to the committee.

Residents of West Pokot County were to benefit from a hospital in Ortum at a cost of Sh3 billion. Kimtai said a request for the allocation was made on May 2 in the financial year 2024/2025.

The county does not have a modern hospital, and whenever there is a need for major surgeries, patients are referred to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.

Meanwhile, Siaya County had been slotted to have Urenga Level III Hospital.

None of the projects was allocated a budget from the National Treasury.

The Robert Pukose-led committee did not push to know why the projects had been given a cold shoulder.