William Kabogo, the former Kiambu Governor weighed in on the alleged misappropriation of funds meant to combat the Covid-19 pandemic in Kenya.
In a video that was widely circulated on Sunday, May 3, Kabogo warned unnamed officials alleged to be behind shady deals at the Ministry of Health that they would pay dearly for their actions.
Seemingly disgusted, Kabogo warned them that they were cursed and would die for stealing resources meant to help ailing Kenyans.
“Let me tell you Kenyans, I’m not a prophet or a witch-doctor, but those who are eating funds meant to respond to Covid-19, they are cursed and they will die.
“People are sick, people are dying and you are stealing funds? Wait for it, your day is coming, one day you will walk naked,” he asserted.
The former governor was voicing his discontent after the expenditure of Ksh1 billion donated to Kenya by the World Bank to fight Covid-19 stoked controversy.
The spending of Ksh6 million and Ksh10 million on airtime and tea and snacks respectively had raised eyebrows, as did the leasing of 15 ambulances with some experts arguing it would have been cheaper to buy.
Those who complained, including a large section of Kenyans online, observed complaints from medical workers that they lacked adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) while millions were being spent on non-essential items.
“Ambulance lease at Ksh2.8m each? For how long? Ksh13.5m for 30 HCWs (Health Care Workers) “needing quarantine for 90 days.” 90 each or in total (3 each?). Neither makes sense.
“Ksh15.5m for stationery (6.5m + 9m for quarantine documents), @ Sh5/sheet, its 6000+ reams! Scam. No wonder they are infecting people,” economist David Ndii had questioned on Wednesday, April 29, for instance.
The government, however, moved to allay fears that funds meant for the country’s Covid-19 response were being diverted, with both President Uhuru Kenyatta and Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe promising decisive action.
As part of a shake-up at Afya House, Kagwe proceeded to transfer 30 officials working in the ministry, including long-serving procurement officials.
“Sometimes when a battle like this comes up, it helps you to see who is on your side.
“I am no greenhorn. I have seen such mischief before, wasn’t intimidated then, and will not be intimidated now. Watch my actions, they will illustrate this,” Kagwe wrote on Facebook on Thursday, 30 April.
Speaking on Friday, May 1, President Kenyatta promised that all funds allocated to the fight against Covid-19 would be audited.
“Let us not use this fight against Coronavirus to be like our time to play petty politics. All the money that has been spent in this pandemic, when its time comes, will be audited in broad daylight.”
“We will make it public. Nothing will be hidden. But now is not the time to quarrel. It is the time to save lives, dear leaders.
“If you have mercy on your people, this is the time for you to be supportive of the efforts that we are all undertaking to ensure that we defeat this virus,” he noted in his Labour Day Speech from State House, Nairobi.
