counties Raise Alarm Over Health, Procurement
Council Chairman Ahmed Abdullahi pointed out that the Ministry cannot unilaterally amend the employees of UHC workers without the counties.
The governors also blamed the National Treasury for the implementation of the e-Government Procurement System. Photo/ KBC Digital.
BY Juliet Jerotich
The Council of Governors (CoG) has raised serious concerns about ongoing health sector issues and the recent rollout of government digital platforms. They warned that county service delivery will be eroded in the near term unless urgent solutions are developed.
After an Extraordinary Council Meeting, the governors accused the Ministry of Health of unfairly portraying the counties as reluctant to accept Universal Health Coverage (UHC) personnel. They strongly denied these allegations, citing that the counties are ready to support health staff but would want to be consulted on all issues.
Council Chairman Ahmed Abdullahi pointed out that the Ministry cannot unilaterally amend the employees of UHC workers without the counties. He added that health workers form the hub of county activities and that any such single-handed move would risk precipitating confusion and tension. He further urged the release of pending funds. The CoG asserts that there are Ksh 7.7 billion worth of salaries and Ksh 9.4 billion worth of gratuity payments that must be cleared before relocating staff.
The governors also blamed the National Treasury for the implementation of the e-Government Procurement System. They argued that the system was rushed, not well tested, and is currently causing chaos in key services within counties.
They informed them the platform was piloted only in three counties prior to its rollout nationwide. They further stated that this has caused severe delays and, in some cases, has halted procurement altogether. The health sector has been most affected, with counties struggling to acquire drugs, equipment, and other necessary supplies.
The CoG warned that until the flaws in the system are addressed, county operations will remain in limbo. They urged the National Treasury to work together with counties to reform and improve the system so it can serve its desired purpose without undermining service delivery.
Governors maintained that counties cannot be excluded from making choices that directly affect their operations. They emphasized consultation and collaboration between the national and county governments as the sole way to ensure the smooth delivery of services, especially in matters of importance like health.
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