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Kenya: Senate Wants Audit of Covid-19 Billions

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6 years ago

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The noose is tightening around the necks of people who may have squandered money meant to fight Covid-19 following a parliamentary panel’s recommedation for a special audit.

The Senate ad hoc committee on the pandemic made the request following reports that hundreds of millions of shillings may have been diverted, misapplied or misappropriated.

The committee, chaired by Nominated Senator Sylvia Kasanga Mueni, wants authorities to look into procurement and purchases by the Health Ministry and agencies under its watch.

In two August 4 letters to Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o, Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye says the special audit on the national and devolved governments and county budget implementation reports should cover the period from March 13 to July 31.

Special scrutiny

“The committee therefore requests that you undertake the audit and submit an independent report,” Mr Nyegenye says, adding that the report should be submitted by email on or before September 4.

According to the committee, a lot has been said and written on how the money is being spent “when there is nothing to show for it”.

The special scrutiny comes as the National Assembly Finance and Planning Committee prepares to summon top officials from the ministry over the expenditure of the coronavirus cash given by development partners from around the globe.

Chief executives of the referral hospitals that received the money would also face the lawmakers.