28 October 2008
editorial
Nobody should be surprised at reports that Kenya has been denied billions of shillings to fight the three major killer diseases -- malaria, tuberculosis and Aids.
But Kenyans should be very angry. Warnings and reprimands from the Global Fund and other donors have become a ritual since 2003, and in all this time, no significant remedial measures have been taken.
As a result, the health and lives of those suffering from the diseases have been put in serious jeopardy.
Each time Kenya has been denied access to these funds, committees have been hurriedly set up to investigate, consultants are engaged to advise, and conferences are organised to deliberate on the issue, but after a short while, it is always business as usual.
The reasons for the country missing out on the pledged Sh13 billion range from lack of accountability, delays in accounting for how the donor money has been spent, to outright embezzlement.And this at a time when these diseases continue to exert a high toll on Kenyans, the majority of whom cannot afford the drugs to fight malaria or antiretrovirals for those living with Aids!
The high prevalence of these afflictions in Kenya attracts huge donations, but it has created two distinct classes: those infected and affected who live in misery, and those administering the funds who live in great opulence.
The Government has no choice but to take up the broom and clean the Ministry of Medical Services from top to bottom.
Minister Anyang' Nyong'o has promised to do just that. But while we don't doubt his determination, we are sceptical that he will, single-handedly, tame the deeply-entrenched networks of corruption that run right through his ministry, Office of the President, the Treasury, local and foreign academic institutions, and even among donors themselves.
Consequently, this country demands action at the Cabinet level.
This should be nothing short of relentlessly and ruthlessly punishing those found guilty of embezzlement and misappropriation, and putting in place an honest team that will use donor funds to alleviate the suffering of fellow Kenyans.
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