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Since the Kenya Kwanza administration took office in September 2022, it has faced several challenges in managing public expectations, especially regarding its promises to overhaul the health sector.

Healthcare is one of the pillars of President William Ruto’s agenda. He promised to prioritise affordable and accessible healthcare for all Kenyans.

Yet, controversies surrounding contracts awarded to private entities, foreign companies, and public-private partnerships have left many questioning the true intentions of these agreements.

One of the most glaring issues is the opacity surrounding some of the largest contracts in the Ministry of Health.

From the procurement of medical equipment to the construction of health facilities, there has been little public disclosure of the specifics of these deals.

The concerns raised by the Senate over a deal entered between the national government and counties to lease medical equipment to be used in the implementation of Universal Health Care needs not only to be thoroughly audited but also explained to the public.

The secrecy surrounding the deal aside, the admission by Council of Governors deputy chairperson Mutahi Kahiga that he was coerced into signing the deal raises more questions than answers.
It is startling that so far, 34 county governments have signed the deal, although they have no idea what companies will supply the equipment or how it was procured.

Senators have described the National Equipment Service Project as “opaque” and akin to the defunct Medical Equipment Service scandal, which saw the Kenyan government spend Sh63 billion on dysfunctional equipment.

It is also said that the agreement violated the Constitution and procurement laws, because the Intergovernmental Participation Agreement should have preceded the procurement process.

The lack of clarity surrounding these transactions has fuelled suspicions that certain deals may not be in the best interests of taxpayers, and that corruption or vested interests might be playing a role.

The Ruto administration must take immediate action and come clean on the mega health contracts. This is not just about clearing the air on specific deals, but about setting a broader precedent for the management of public resources.