Counties to get additional Sh21b for healthcare services

Council of Governors CEO Jacqueline Mogeni

The money from the World Bank and the Danish International Development Agency (Danida) will be part of Sh180 billion that will be made available for all counties for agriculture, health, and urban development in a period of five years.

Speaking to The Standard, Council of Governors CEO Jacqueline Mogeni said the money would be given as grants.

Beneficiaries will be expected to follow strict spending guidelines.

“This will be a result-based financing, with indicators put in place to ensure that the counties meet their targets. Counties that do not perform will simply not receive the rest of the money,” said Ms Mogeni.

The counties are expected to spend the money on reproductive, maternal, new-born, child, and adolescent health.

“The counties must have met a certain percentage of women of reproductive age on family planning and have a certain percentage of children immunised,” said Mogeni.

The money will be channelled through a special account at the Central Bank whose signatories will be chief officers of finance and health.

“Each county will designate a focal person, an accountant and an internal auditor, and provide a budget approved by the county assembly that is inclusive of the funds,” she said.