Mailu moves to reassure public amid US aid cut

Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu. FILE PHOTO | NMG 

Health Secretary Cleopa Mailu has moved to reassure the public, saying the United State's suspension of direct assistance will not impact service delivery by his Ministry and will only affect administrative support for programmes.

"We assure Kenyans that stock outs or non-availability of medical supplies will not be experienced. Therefore there will be no interruptions of health care provisions during the period of suspension," Dr Mailu said in a statement Tuesday afternoon.

He added that the Ministry of Health has been addressing matters raised by an internal audit investigation after a damning report leaked to the media unearthed a Sh5 billion scam at Afya House.

Autonomous State agencies - the Kenya National Audit Office and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) - are undertaking independent investigations whose outcomes will inform further action, he said.

The US has cited alleged corruption and accountability issues as the reasons behind suspending aid to the MoH.

"We will resume once the government puts in place accountability measures," American Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec said earlier today.

USAid said it will have an informal meeting with representatives of the affected programmes tomorrow morning at the Lord Errol hotel in Nairobi.

“We wish to assure our development partners and Kenyans of our commitment to prudent financial management and accountability of the resources placed under our stewardship. We continue to engage the US government to address their concerns with a view to lifting the suspension,” said Dr Mailu.