Civil Society Organizations demand for information from ministry of health on audit reports

Civil society organizations have jointly given the Ministry of Health 14 days to provide them with further information on recent audit reports. The information requested is contained in two sets of letters dated 14 November 2016 addressed to the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Health, Dr. Cleopa Mailu. The organizations that have jointly been in the forefront of demanding for information include Transparency International, Society for International Development, the Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV &AIDS, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union, HENNET, Kenya Treatment Action Campaign and the National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV, among others.

The first letter requests for additional information following an audit by a donor, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI). In its audit report, GAVI questioned expenditures of their donor monies by the Ministry of Health totaling to US $1.6 million (approximately Kshs. 160 Million). The government of Kenya in its response agreed to reimburse GAVI this amount, and proceeded to do so. The CSOs have thus demanded for information on:

  • The action taken against people adversely mentioned in the audit report;
  • Copies of documentations showing transfer of repayment of the above money to GAVI;
  • Information as to the budget line used to reimburse GAVI, among others.

In the second letter, the CSOs have demanded for additional information following the release of an interim audit report that revealed possible loss of at least Kshs. 5 Billion. Additionally, the audit report revealed that the Ministry of Health is taking over county functions, has a flawed procurement system marred by lack of transparency and conflict of interest. The CSOs thus demanded for information on:

  • Intergovernmental agreements between the Ministry of Health and County Governments;
  • Minutes, reports and other documentation of the procurement process;
  • Final audit report; among others.

The letters have since been received by the Ministry.

Organizations are hopeful that the Ministry of Health, pursuant to the newly enacted Access to Information Act, will comply with this demand to enable meaningful public discourse and help them determine the next cause of action.

The Letters can be accessed below:

To contribute to the discussion and for live updates follow KELIN on our social media platforms using the hashtag #AfyaHouseScandal:

Twitter: @KELINkenya

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kelinkenya

For more information contact:
Allan Maleche

Executive Director, KELIN

Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV & AIDS (KELIN)

4th Floor, Somak Building, Mombasa Road

Tel +254202515790; Cell +254708389870;

Email: amaleche@kelinkenya.org

or

Irũngũ Houghton,

Associate Director, Kenya Dialogues Project,
Society for International Development

6th Floor, Timau Plaza, Argwings Kodhek road, Kilimani,

P.O. Box 2404-00100

Nairobi, Kenya

Mobile: +254-733-635-354

Email: irunguh@sidint.org