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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Kenya to appeal Sh25b Global Fund verdict

Business

By The Standard Business | Nov 25, 2009

By Elizabeth Mwai

Kenya has 28 days to appeal against a decision by Global Fund to deny the country Sh25 billion to fight HIV and Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

The Global Fund managers rejected Kenya’s Round Nine application bid two weeks ago over what they saw as lack of a clear working framework between Medical Services and Public Health ministries.

Medical Services PS James ole Kiyiapi confirmed the Country Co-ordinating Mechanism (CCM) was preparing a strong defence for the proposal.

"We are confident our proposal is competent. I feel we will succeed," said Prof Kiyiapi, on Tuesday.

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In an interview with The Standard, Kiyiapi said CCM was looking at the critical issues raised by the Fund review team.

However, Kiyiapi said CCM cannot introduce new information into the proposal but can only prepare to defend contentious issues raised by Global Fund.

As chair of CCM, the PS was optimistic the team putting in order the defence was doing a thorough job.

This is the second time Kenya’s application was quashed after Round Eight proposal for Sh24 billion was rejected last year.

The rejection was occasioned by inconsistencies in the proposal, which did not sit well with the Fund managers.

In addition, the country had been accused of delaying use of Global Fund money leading to the expiry of the deadline.

A few months ago, Kenya was forced to return some money to the Fund for earlier rounds after it failed to beat the timeline set for using it.

The move received widespread criticism due to the fact the country needs to expand the number of people on antiretroviral drugs (ARVs).

There are 1.4 million people living with HIV and Aids, out of which 260,000 are on ARVs.

Missing out on funding means the Government will not be able to meet the new demand once some of these patients begin to require the drugs.

Despite HIV and Aids being declared a national disaster in Kenya, the money the Government allocates for ARVs is a mere Sh500 million, which can only support about 10,000 people.