Ministry of Health Sh24.6billion CHP’s medical kits bombshell

Two Principal Secretaries under the Ministry of Health (MoH); Mary Muthoni in charge of State Department of Professional Standards and Medical Services PS Harry Kimtai are on the spotlight over the controversial Sh24.6billion medical kits tender awarded to a Chinese firm to supply medical essentials and pharmaceutical products to the much touted Community Health Promoters (CHP).

While appearing before the National Assembly Health Committee on Tuesday this week, December 3, 2024, PS Muthoni attempted to withdraw the procurement document into the Sh24.6billion contract worth of supplies signed between the Ministry of Health and Surgimed Medical Supplies Company Limited on September 13, 2023, she was rebuffed by the committee and told she cannot recall the document since it is already signed and hence it is a parliamentary document.

In the latest case that has thrust the Ministry of Health back into the limelight following past procurement scandals and styled as tendering heist scams running into tens of billions, the Endebes Member of Parliament (MP) Robert Pukose chaired committee warned that it would not approve any expenditure in favour of MoH until all the questions surrounding the Sh24.6billion contract shrouded in secrecy are fully and satisfactorily explained.

During a session, the committee, chaired by Endebes MP Robert Pukose, expressed dissatisfaction with the ministry’s explanations regarding the programme.

“We are not satisfied with the answers; we are going for recess and will resume in mid-January over this matter.” Pukose said.

The committee rejected an attempt by Muthoni to withdraw a document on the procurement due to insufficient answers.

“No, you cannot withdraw it. You have signed it, and it is now a parliamentary document.” Kilgoris MP Julius Sunkuli told Muthoni.

In the three-years contract, Surgimed Medical Supplies is to supply MoH with Community Health Promoters (CHP) kits, consumables and medicine supplies in phases.

According to contract, in the first year, the supplies were valued at Sh10.2billion, with Sh6.8billion projected for the second year and Sh7.6billion for the third.

In the first year, Surgimed Medical Supplies was to supply kits worth Sh3.88billion and consumables such as glucometer test strips at a cost of Sh2.97billion alongside medicine supplies worth Sh3.3billion.

In the second year, Surgimed Medical Supplies was to deliver kits at a cost of Sh3.18billion and medicine supplies at a cost of Sh3.6billion.

And in the third year in a row, Surgimed Medical Supplies, according to the contract is supposed to deliver kits at a cost of Sh3.56billion and medicine supplies at a cost of Sh3.9billion.

While appearing before the committee, PS Muthoni said the ministry has so received 100,000 kits on September 22, 2023 alongside the medicines that were distributed to county headquarters from Harmony Vibrant International Kenya on behalf of Surgimed Medical Supplies.

During the session, it also emerged that despite the deliveries being made, the ministry has exposed some Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to inordinate payment delays since June this year and continued making payments to deceased individuals in what is likely to shape out as making payments to ghost workers.

Members of Parliament threatening to block its budget until all questions surrounding the agreement are addressed to ascertain whether the deal offered value for money to taxpayers.

The programme, which was originally managed under the Department of Medical Services, was transferred to Muthoni’s docket, but the committee questioned the details of this transition.

Nyeri Town MP Duncan Mathenge revealed that in Nyeri, four health promoters who died in May had still not been paid by June, while 35 others had yet to receive any stipend.

“It seems like we have a problem in terms of numbers from counties.” Mathenge noted.

“We only pay according to the lists provided by counties. I will write to Nyeri to confirm their list and ensure no payments go to individuals who have exited.” PS Muthoni said in defense.

The committee’s hardline stance casts doubt on the success of President William Ruto’s Universal Health Coverage agenda, which hinges on the effective implementation of the community health promoters programme amid a cloud of secrecy into the procurement processes and efficiency of the contentious Social Health Authority (SHA).