{"id":13276,"date":"2020-08-24T19:09:25","date_gmt":"2020-08-24T19:09:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.com\/kenya\/?p=13276"},"modified":"2020-08-24T19:09:25","modified_gmt":"2020-08-24T19:09:25","slug":"25-lobby-groups-petition-government-over-mishandled-covid-19-funds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/kenya\/all-news\/25-lobby-groups-petition-government-over-mishandled-covid-19-funds","title":{"rendered":"25 lobby groups petition government over mishandled Covid-19 funds"},"content":{"rendered":"

AfricaPress-Kenya:<\/strong> A total of 25 lobby groups have teamed up to petition the government to put up measures that would guarantee integrity, transparency and accountability in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

This is in response to the recent reports that funds and Personal Protective Equipment channelled to the\u00a0Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa)\u00a0were mishandled and could not be fully accounted for.<\/p>\n

The groups, comprising professionals from trade unions, non-governmental organizations and associations want the government to act promptly and ensure that the country is not priced out in the fight against the virus.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have noted with great concern, gaps in transparency and accountability by government agencies charged with managing Covid-19 resources. These loopholes have led to the overpricing of commodities, purchase of substandard Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), embezzlement of commodities including donated PPEs,<\/p>\n

failure of the PPE\u2019s to reach those who need it the most including healthcare workers on the frontline of fighting Covid-19, and misappropriation of public funds meant to procure protective gear\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

They want the Executive to strictly follow the articles 10 and 201 of the\u00a0Constitution on governance and public finance\u00a0to inject public participation for transparency.<\/p>\n

Lobby groups<\/strong><\/p>\n

The lobby groups include: Amnesty International Kenya, Association of Professional Societies in East Africa (APSEA), Civil Society Reference Group (CSRG), Constitution and Reform Education Consortium (CRECO),\u00a0 County Governance Watch, \u00a0Global Compact Network Kenya,\u00a0 Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA Kenya), Katiba Institute, Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC),\u00a0 Kenya Medical Association (KMA), Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU),\u00a0 Kenya Union of Clinical Officers,\u00a0 Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya), Mzalendo Trust,\u00a0 National Association of Clinical Officer Anaesthetists- Kenya (NACOA-K), National Nurses Association of Kenya, National Taxpayers Association (NTA),\u00a0 NEPOTEHC,\u00a0 Pamoja TB group,\u00a0 Stop TB Partnership-Kenya,\u00a0 The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA),\u00a0 The Kenya Legal & Ethical Issues Network On HIV & AIDS (KELIN) , Transparency International Kenya, White Ribbon Alliance and Wote Youth Development Projects.<\/p>\n

In the press statement, the groups have tabled 20 demands to the government in addressing the Covid-19 preparedness. For instance, they want the Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe to give a comprehensive report on the Covid-19 facilities,<\/p>\n

the occupancy and number of equipment functional equipment they have. They also want a report on the health workers recruited and the vacancies filled so far as well as the occupational safety and the number of frontline workers affected.<\/p>\n

List of demands<\/strong><\/p>\n