Why the US government suspended the Sh2.1 billion support to Kenya’s ministry of health

US ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec on Monday announced that the US government had suspended the Sh2.1 billion support to Kenya’s ministry of health due to concerns of corruption and non-accountability.

Addressing the press Godec said that the move taken by the US government through the United State Agency for International Development (USAID) is meant to help those Kenyans that the funds are intended to help.He also said that his government was out to protect its taxpayers’ money that is why they are following to ensure that the money is used in the right way.

He also said that this was done as the US liaise with Kenya’s ministry of health to improve accounting controls. According to him, the funding will be restored after the required progress.

However, this move has affected several some key areas in the ministry of health. These areas include the salaries and wages of all staff under the Global Health security Agenda and the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief. This will also cause the administrative staff to miss their salaries.

However, the suspension will not affect direct support to patients, including provision of anti-retroviral drugs, HIV test kits, nutritional supplements, family planning products and other essential equipment.

Meanwhile, Godec said that the suspension does not mean that US-Kenya relations are bad and it had nothing to do with the g August polls.



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