Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS)has beackoned the Controller of Budget and the Senate to force Nairobi County to release Sh253 million budgeted for healthcare services.
NMS Deputy Director-General William Kangethe and NMS director for health services Josephine Mbae have lamented the failure of Nairobi county to transfer signatories for the bank accounts.
The status quo has meant that the NMS cannot manage any hospital facilities until the deadlock is opened.
The Sh253 million is meant for the provision of services for health centres and dispensaries in Nairobi County.
Sh127 million of the total amount is still being held at the Central Bank where the county government still bears the signatories while Sh126 million is held at the County Revenue Fund.
“The Sh127 million held in Special Purpose Account (SPA) of the County in the Central Bank meant to benefit health centres is still held by the county and the signatories to the account have not been changed to officers of NMS mandated to execute the function of health,” Mr Kangethe told the committee in a virtual meeting yesterday.
Mr. Kangethe further warned that the county could attract hefty fines if the development funds are not utilised.
“These funds are conditional grants from the Ministry of Health and attract penalties when not expended for the correct purpose and when not spent at the correct time,” Mr Kangethe added.
Despite holding the Sh253 million, Dr Mbae told the committee that the county government has transferred all the health facilities to NMS with no resources to manage them.
