COVID-19 funds: Kenyan Health Ministry spends GHC214million on airtime, tea and snacks

- The ministry said a total of KSh 1.3 billion had so far been used in combating the coronavirus pandemic

- Other expenses included leasing ambulances (KSh 42 million), communications (KSh 70 million), stationery (KSh 6.5 million) and printing of forms (KSh 9 million)

- The department also allocated Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) KSh 150 million to provide additional bed capacity at Mbagathi Hospital isolation centre

The Ministry of Health has spent KSh 2 million on airtime and KSh 4 million on tea and snacks since the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in Kenya.

In a statement, the ministry said a total of KSh 1.3 billion had so far been used in combating the killer disease.

READ ALSO: Photo of Funny Face’s baby mama drops; their new relationship on fire

The ministry's budget breakdown seen by yen.com.gh on Thursday, April 30, indicated the expenditure was tabled before National Assembly's health committee chaired by Murang’a woman representative Sabina Chege.

According to the document, some of the expenses incurred included leasing ambulances (KSh 42 million), communications (KSh 70 million), airtime (KSh 2 million), tea and snacks (KSh 4 million), stationery (KSh 6.5 million) and printing of forms (KSh 9 million).

READ ALSO: “Obofour doesn’t sleep at night” - Former friend and colleague pastor spills secrets

Printing of forms gobbled 10 times more money that it had been budgeted for as the initial approved proposal was KSh 900,000.

The ministry also allocated Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) KSh 150 million to provide additional bed capacity at Mbagathi Hospital isolation centre, and KSh 10 million to the National Youth Service (NYS) for security services in isolation and quarantine facilities.

KSh 5 million was allocated to the broadcasting department to facilitate community outreaches and media tours across region.

Here were some of the reaction by Kenyans on the expenditure:

"It's ironical that GoK spent 4 million on tea and snacks in a period of one month while it's citizens have nothing to eat evidently after a woman cooked stones for supper," Lesterweed Junior said.

"It's no longer funny when the MoH spends a whopping 4 million on tea and snacks when such huge amounts of money should be invested in PPEs, testing kits and ventilators," Mwangi Maina opined.

"Four million on tea and snacks. And then there are Kenyans citizens who cannot afford a meal,leave alone two square meals a day," Saru wondered.

Meanwhile, Ghana's coronavirus cases have skyrocketed to 2,074 as of Thursday, April 30, 2020.

READ ALSO: Kennedy Agyapong shatters hope of Menzgold customers in new video; says “nothing can be done"

Ghanaian landlady cancels rent for 3 months due to coronavirus | #Yencomgh

Have national and human interest issues to discuss?

Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition?

Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: YEN.com.gh