Eleven counties are set to benefit from Sh3.5 billion in support from the United States Agency for Development (USAID) to strengthen their financial accountability and reduce fraud and waste within their health sectors.
The kitty will support three programmes including USAID Ubora Mashinani, closing gaps in devolved health service delivery, and the United Society Against Fraud, Waste, and Abuse programme.
The USAID Ubora programme, which will be implemented by the Kenya Community Development Foundation, will strengthen citizen participation in counties’ making and budget decisions to ensure public funds are effectively utilised for better service delivery.
The programme will benefit Nakuru, Homa Bay, Isiolo, Kakamega, Kiambu, Kisii, Kisumu, Makueni, Mombasa, Samburu, and Turkana counties for the 2023–2028 period and will utilise Sh1.6 billion (USD 12 million) of the total allocations.
On the other hand, the closing gaps in devolved health service delivery and the United Society against Fraud, Waste, and Abuse programmes will in addition support Kakamega, Nakuru Isiolo, Kilifi, and Mombasa counties.
The two programmes will ensure better financing and spending, increased oversight and accountability, and strengthen consistent health policies and citizen involvement towards efficient healthcare for all Kenyans.
Speaking during the launch of the programmes in Naivasha, Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika welcomed the financial support, noting that it would help reduce wastage of health-allocated resources and fraudulent incidences.
Kihika said the programme, which would be implemented in collaboration with local development organisations, will help onboard more citizens in county health initiatives through enhanced public participation exercises.
“These programmes will further citizens’s engagement in the devolved unit’s initiatives and also provide channels for reporting back on programme accountability and effectiveness,” said Kihika.
In addition, the Governor lauded USAID for supporting various programmes being implemented by the county, including USAID TUJENGE JAMII, which has helped to strengthen programmes on HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, and maternal services.
On the other hand, Kihika said the Tujenge programme has also strengthened services of newborn, child, and adolescent health, water, sanitation, and hygiene, health systems, and Community Health Systems (CHS).
The Governor at the same time noted that USAID is also supporting the county in the Electronic Medical Records Systems, improving supply chain management on health products, and tapping data for better health financing.
Consequently, Kihika said the three programmes would help identify the gaps that hamper the delivery of services and the measures needed to seal loopholes and build a robust legislative and social accountability mechanism.
“I assure you of my unwavering commitment to providing the requisite attention to these programmes, as well as human, administrative, and technical resources, to deliver a seamless, people-focused, and results-driven execution of these activities,” said Kihika.
On his part, USAID Country Mission Director David Gosney said the programmes would enhance counties’ capacity to identify and curb loopholes that lead to waste and further public participation in the devolved unit’s health sector.
In addition, Gosney said that through the programme, citizens in the selected counties would be empowered to report inefficiencies, fraud, and corruption-related incidences that may hamper service delivery.
By Erastus Gichohi
