The Ministry of Health has tentatively been granted Sh13.2 billion to fight Covid-19 third wave by buying PPE, medicines and boosting oxygen supply in the country.
Kenya must, however, make a formal application to Global Fund, the donor, to access the grant.
The money will also be used to protect HIV, TB and malaria programmes during the pandemic as well as financing laboratories, supply chains and communication.
The grant was announced by Mark Eldon-Edington, head of grant management at Global Fund.
In a letter to Health PS Susan Mochache, Eldon-Edington says Kenya has already been awarded Sh6.65 billion.
In addition, the country can also apply for another Sh6.65 billion grant. To receive the two grants totalling Sh13.2 billion, Kenya must make an “ambitious and comprehensive funding request” before May 14.
“This letter does not guarantee that an applicant will receive C19RM (Covid-19 response mechanism) funding. All funding requests will be reviewed and assessed before funding is approved,” he says in the April 7 letter seen by the Star.
However, Kenya can receive a portion of the money immediately if it requests so.
“Fast-track requests are specifically for the urgent procurement and deployment of Covid-19 health products, including diagnostics, therapeutics (such as oxygen and related equipment) and personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as the support costs related to the effective deployment of these health products,” Eldon-Edington says.
This grant comes from the US and Germany, who have given Global Fund $3.5 billion (Sh374 billion) and EUR 140 million (Sh 17.8 billion) respectively for Covid-19 response.
The fund said additional contributions are anticipated from other donors.
“These funds are intended for the response to Covid-19 and to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, and strengthen health and community systems,” Eldon-Edington said.
The funding request will be made through the Kenya Coordinating Mechanism, a team of 23 public officials and civil society representatives that manages Global Funds in Kenya. It is chaired by PS Mochache.
The Star understands the team will meet on Wednesday in Nairobi to discuss the Global Fund letter and later draft a request for funding.
“Kenya is strongly encouraged to submit the C19RM Funding Request(s) as early as possible to maximise the impact of funds and immediately respond to urgent needs,” Eldon-Edington says.
In the past 12 months, Kenya has received $6.4 billion grants and loans for its Covid-19 response, according to a list compiled by Mary Mukami, an accountant and a social media activist from press coverage.
In August last year, President Uhuru Kenyatta had directed that concerned ministries must openly publish accounts of all funds received and how they have been spent.
He said this was an act of transparency and an anti-corruption measure that should be adopted by all public entities.
“I also hereby direct that the Ministry of Health, within the next 30 days, must come up with a transparent, open method and mechanism through which all tenders and procurement done by Kemsa are available online,” the President ordered.
“This level of transparency and through the use of technology, will go a very along way in ensuring that we have the confidence of our people that those placed in institutions are able to manage the resources of the Kenyan taxpayer plus our development partners in an open and transparent manner,” he added.
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