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Hillary Mageka @hillarymageka

A Senate watchdog committee yesterday questioned Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya over his administration failure to disburse Sh269 million to the Imarisha Afya Ya Mama Na Mtoto Programme  aimed at ensuring that pregnant women and infants  access quality and affordable health services.

Appearing before the Senate County Public Accounts and Investment Committee (CPAIC) nine-member team, Governor Oparanya was at pains to explain why he delayed the monies as bulk of vulnerable pregnant women, mothers and young children were affected.

Poked holes

This even as members committee poked holes on the  sustainability of the programme which targets mothers within reproductive age bracket  of between18-49 years within the county alleging it was designed to fail.

“We want proper justification why you (Governor) delayed making payment toward this programme,” Kisii Senator Sam Ongeri, who is the chairman of the committee said.

Former Auditor General Edward Ouko in his audit report for the financial year ending 2018, said the time of audit in November 2017, a total 30,716 mothers enrolled in the program dubbed “Oparanya care” which mirrors the Linda Mama Programme were yet to be paid an excess of sh 269 million.

Further, Ouko noted that needy mothers for financial support were to be identified after attending ante natal clinic for at least four times.

“The support was to be provided in at least six stages at the rate of shs 2, 000 in each stage until the new born attains the age of 18 months,” Ouko  says in his audit report.