Kenyans need answers on Covid-19 cash theft claims
Allegations that some individuals that could have stolen cash meant to save lives in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic are grave.
It is shameful that anyone would want to take advantage of a global health challenge for accumulation of wealth through the most immoral of means.
It would also be a gross abuse of the acts of charity by many Kenyans and foreign donors who have contributed to the emergency kitty for the fight against the virus.
Kenya has so far secured more than Sh223 billion for programmes geared towards measures to prevent spread of the disease.
The alleged siphoning of funds and equipment, including the much-needed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is blamed for the shortage of critical materials in hospitals.
Already, doctors and health workers in Nairobi have threatened to go on strike due to unpaid allowances and lack of protective gear in hospitals.
Various stakeholders have asked the government to come clean on the use of the Covid-19 funds, but the continued ambivalence by Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe and half-hearted assurances by various investigative agencies have not been helpful.
We are aware that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating top officers at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) while Kagwe has made some cosmetic changes at the ministry, the epicentre of scandals in recent history.
There has been an unexplained reluctance by relevant government institutions to make full disclosure on usage of the kitty.
In fact, some public officers have been quoted declaring that they would not make disclosures on expenditure of Covid-19 funds.
A section of leaders have even called on donors to freeze funding to the kitty until the government explains how it is spending the money.
Auditor-General, Nancy Gathungu has also been advised to institute a special audit into the expenditure of the billions of shillings allocated to the national and county governments for the pandemic’s interventions.
Relevant House committees in both the Senate and National Assembly have launched investigations into the matter, but we are wary that such probes have been used as extortion platforms before.
The signs are ominous that the Covid-19 fight is fast evolving into a scandal. Relevant agencies should move with speed and investigate the allegations and those responsible prosecuted.
We also implore Kagwe to address the issue before it leaves him with an egg on his face.
