The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health is set to launch a public inquiry into activities at the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). This follows widespread allegations of collusion between NHIF officials and private healthcare facilities to defraud the national insurer. Speaking on after a meeting with the top management of NHIF, the committee chairperson Robert Pukose expressed concern over prevalent claims that high-ranking NHIF officials have been colluding with unscrupulous hospitals to defraud the fund through unsubstantiated and fictitious claims. Pukose said that the only way to salvage the deteriorating state of the fund is to launch a comprehensive…
Author: Silas Apollo
The National Assembly’s departmental committee on Health has discovered a suspicious tender error that may have contributed to the failed procurement of anti-Malaria nets worth Sh3.7 billion. The error in question relates to the inclusion of Preferred Provider Organization combinations, which did not align with the initial tender specifications. It is suspected that this discrepancy was intentional and aimed at sabotaging the procurement process by the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA). Acting KEMSA Chief Executive Officer Andrew Mulwa told the committee that the head of the malaria program had alerted his office about the absence of PPO combinations in the…
A new intelligence report released by the United States government on the possible source and cause of the Coronavirus has played down claims that the virus may have been biologically engineered or processed in a laboratory. The intelligence report, authored by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, says that Covid-19 could have been an accidental virus whose exact origin is unknown and determined. The declassified report, released in June 2023, sought to determine whether there was a potential link between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the origin of the Covid-19 pandemic. The report argues that an analysis…
The National Treasury has proposed a reduction in the national government expenditure by about Sh6.4 billion for the year ending June 2023. This is according to figures contained in the second supplementary estimates for the 2022/23 financial year and which are currently before the National Assembly awaiting debate and approval. The proposed figures, according to the supplementary estimates, comprises a reduction of Capital Expenditure by Sh39 billion, an increase in recurrent expenditure by Sh7.6 billion and an increase in Consolidated Funds Services (CFS) by Sh24.8 billion. The second Supplementary Estimates for 2022/23 seek to provide additional resources for drought related…
The total amount of pending bills owed by both the national and county governments increased by about Sh102.21 billion in the first nine months of the 2022/23 financial year. An analysis of a report released by the Office of Controller of Budget shows that the total outstanding bills for both the national and county governments stood at about Sh689.26 billion as of March 31, 2023, compared to about Sh587.05 billion reported on 31st March 2022. This amount, the report shows, comprises of some Sh529.53 billion (76.8%) owed by the national government and another Sh159.94 billion (23.2%) owed by counties. The national…
Kenya currently sends roughly one-fifth of all its exports to the EU, its biggest market. The Kenya government and the European Union on Monday announced the conclusion of negotiations for an economic partnership that is expected to boost trade in goods and services between Kenya and the EU. The negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), were concluded during an official ceremony in Nairobi by EU Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis and cabinet secretary for trade and investments Moses Kuria, in the presence of President William Samoei Ruto. EPA is poised to be the most ambitious EU…
ARC Ride has grown to become a central player in the e-mobility sector, boasting a catalogue of electric motorbikes and tuk-tuks When Jo Hurst set out on a journey to Africa to work in clean energy about 20 years ago, he had no idea that the trip would one day land him in Kenya, pioneering the adoption of electric motor vehicles and bicycles in the country. Hurst, an investor, and researcher of clean and renewable energy, is the founder and chief executive officer of ARC Ride, a mid-size company in Nairobi assembling and selling electric motorcycles and tuk-tuks. The company…
The government has been urged to review and reduce taxes on food and other basic commodities and invest in agriculture to enable Kenyans to access and adopt healthier eating habits. Research done on the eating habits of various families across the country shows that many households are opting for unhealthier meals due to a number of factors, including high food prices amidst low incomes, exposing many to lifestyle diseases and other illnesses. The study by consultancy group Wasafiri shows that analyses done over two years in the counties of Nairobi, Bungoma, and West Pokot counties revealed growing cases of poor…
The Senate has established a special committee to investigate the proposed removal from office by impeachment of Siaya Deputy Governor William Oduol. Senate Leader of Majority Aaron Cheruiyot, in a motion tabled in the House, moved members to adopt a list of 11 Senators to investigate the allegations raised against the Deputy Governor. Oduol was on June 8th, 2023, impeached by members of the Siaya County Assembly after the MCAs approved a motion to remove him from office as the deputy governor of the county. The speaker of the County Assembly of Siaya conveyed to the Senate Speaker a resolution…
Budget highlights 2023/24 The ministry of Education is one of the biggest beneficiaries in this year’s budget, receiving the lion’s share of funds allocated to ministries, departments and state agencies. A document on the budget highlights released by the National Treasury shows that the ministry of education will receive about Sh630 billion in the 2023/24 Financial Year, making it one of the best earners of funds from the national government. The funds, according to the highlights, represents about 27.4% of the entire budget and will be used to promote shared prosperity, by providing accessible and quality education to all Kenyans. The…