Governor Kahiga recants his statement on SHA equipment leasing after Ruto outburst

Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has walked back on his statement alluding to coercion of devolved units to join the National Equipment Service Program (NESP).

Speaking on Friday, Governor Kahiga indicated that he was misquoted as he meant that individual counties were not consulted, but the devolved units were involved in the process through the Council of Governors (CoG).

"The confusion might have come because the Senate was addressing Nyeri as a county, and I said clearly even Kisii, Baringo, and any other county were not involved as a county but through the Council of Governors, which we mandated,” he said.

“So as of now, as the Vice Chair of the Council of Governors, I say this is the very best program for us. Now let us stop saying it is shrouded in mystery; it is not."

This comes a day after a tough-talking President William Ruto threw salvos at the Governors, saying they had willingly signed the NESP contracts.

Thirty-four counties have so far signed the contract where service providers will equip hospitals as they charge the National Insurance Authority for the services given.

President Ruto on Thursday came out guns blazing in defence of the program that seeks to supply medical equipment to county governments.

He told Governors that none of them was forced to sign up for the scheme and that they voluntarily entered into agreements with suppliers.

“Anybody who says they were forced by the national government to sign whatever contract, they are conmen and liars,” Ruto said.

“No one is under any obligation to sign with the contractor or contractors, there are 7 of them, I think. No Governor was forced. Mung’aro is here, Abdulswamad is here, you'd be a fool to be forced to sign the wrong thing and then come and talk about it. Kwani wewe ni mjinga kiasi gani?”

The President said there are seven suppliers involved in the medical supplies scheme, remarks that came after Governor Kahiga had claimed that they were coerced to sign the contracts.

Kahiga had told the Senate's health committee that the county governments had no choice in the matter of onboarding the NESP.

“Did we have a choice? The program is even open to private facilities. What happens if you don’t join? Did we have a choice?” Kahiga said.

The multi-billion-shilling contracts will see contractors supply medical equipment to county hospitals and earn fees for services provided.