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Coronavirus: Kagwe now defends use of Sh1.3 billion

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has strongly defended the Sh1.3 billion Covid-19 spending, which has kicked up controversy.

The CS (pictured) insisted it is only when confirmed money was misappropriated, after an audit, that the allegations can have a basis. Kagwe said some of the issues being highlighted as misappropriation are being taken out of context yet they are clear cut expenditures, giving an example of the Sh42 million used to hire ambulances.

“Tell me, how much would you pay for an ambulance, one day, taking you from wherever you come from, say for example Nyeri for me, to bring you to Nairobi and take you back on the same day,” Kagwe posed during the daily updates of the disease yesterday. “How much will you pay for an ambulance like that?”

Kagwe said of the Sh42 million used to hire 15 ambulances, about Sh5 million was paid as tax (Value Added Tax).

Ambulances were equipped with personal protective equipment, each having two sets of workers, who would interchange in shifts through 24 hours.

“They are 15 ambulances, and you have them for 12 weeks, that is three months, so do the maths and tell me where you can get an ambulance like this in this country, to manage the kind of things we are managing,” said Kagwe.

“If you have a figure, ask yourself is that figure for a whole month, six months, what amount of time are we talking about," he added.

Kagwe said if indeed there is any misappropriation of the money, then no one will be spared.

“I have got my eyes on the ball. I know what I am doing. It is very easy to put things out of context,” he said. “I am not defending these (claims) but the principle we have adopted is that there will be no shilling spent other than for the issue it is meant for.”

Apart from lease of ambulances, the other questionable item that raised eyebrows is Sh4 million used for tea and snacks and Sh70 million for communication.

"If you have 200 or 300 people locked up somewhere working, taking calls for four months they have to eat, they have to take tea…what are they supposed to do, are they not supposed to eat at some point,” posed the CS.

The CS ruled out himself or his businesses benefiting from any funds allocated to the ministry. He said he was aware of the claims that a public relations firm he is associated with was being linked to the controversy in churning out adverts on the Covid-19 campaigns.

“I have never done any business, not only with this ministry but with any ministry in government. It is my policy to distance myself from my company,” said Kagwe.

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