Left unchecked, virus and graft will badly hunt us all

March 13 changed everything, then it didn’t. In the last 48 hours, Health Cabinet and the Principal Secretaries have separately responded to public concerns with their expenditures. It was only a matter of time that the Covid-19 emergency response would be challenged from an accountability lens well trained by decades of health-based corruption.

Their April 28 briefing to the National Assembly is at the eye of the current storm. Excluding contributions to the Emergency Fund Board, the government has spent Sh8.2 billion to date. Up to Sh300 million has been spent on mitigating measures. The lion’s share has gone to Kenyatta National Hospital (expansion of Mbagathi hospital bed capacity), Defense Ministry (preparedness sic) and the Health ministry (medical logistics at isolation and quarantine centers). These three agencies received 50 per cent, 25 per cent and 8 per cent of the funding. The controversy so far lies in Table 4 that captures the Sh1 billion World Bank grant. The ceilings and expenses figures are astronomical. They include Sh42 million to lease 15 ambulances, Sh13.5 million to accommodate health workers in quarantine for 90 days, staff refreshments, Sh4,000 staff airtime a month and a Sh11 million call center.