House committee clears Safaricom consortium in SHIF rollout

Health CS Deborah Barasa (center), PS Medical Services Harry Kimtai (left) and SHA Chairperson Dr Abdi Mohamed before National Assembly's Health Committee to discuss the rollout of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) in preparation for the Universal Health Coverage launch on 1st October 2024 [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

A House committee has cleared a controversial decision by the Ministry of Health to award tenders for provision of the Integrated Information Technology System For Universal Healthcare, to Safaricom and two other companies, despite the absence of a formal letter of consent from the Office of the Attorney General.

According to a statement read by the Chair of the National Assembly Committee on Health Robert Pukose, the Ministry of Health had furnished the committee with a formal clearance by the Attorney General, "thereby complying with all the legal requirements that were intended to safeguard public money through an assurance that there is value for money in any government transaction."