{"id":2238,"date":"2023-10-24T11:46:29","date_gmt":"2023-10-24T08:46:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/giliticsmedia.co.ke\/?p=2238"},"modified":"2023-10-24T14:27:20","modified_gmt":"2023-10-24T11:27:20","slug":"flawed-relief-irregularities-in-kenyas-covid-19-relief-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/giliticsmedia.co.ke\/flawed-relief-irregularities-in-kenyas-covid-19-relief-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Flawed Relief:\u00a0 Irregularities in Kenya’s COVID-19 Relief Program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
By Shirley Wandera<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Startling revelations have emerged over the Kenyan response to the global Covid-19 pandemic. In April 2020, former President Uhuru Kenyatta established a COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund Board comprising key business leaders in the country tasked with overseeing the management of resources to combat the economic impact of the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A special audit report from the Auditor General examining the utilization of COVID-19 funds allocated to national government entities from March 13 to July 31, 2020, has brought disconcerting findings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the report, the Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund received 2.6 billion Kenyan Shillings. Among the allocations was a substantial sum of 400 million Kenyan Shillings, designated for a Cash Transfer Program. This program aimed to provide financial assistance to 100,000 Kenyans in urban informal settlements for one month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The board approved the plan, and in June 2020, 400 million Kenyan Shillings were disbursed to M-Pesa Holding Company Limited, tasked with channeling funds to the designated beneficiaries over one month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to the 400 million Shillings, the Mombasa County Budget Review for the financial year 2019\/2020 reveals that the county received grants for COVID-19 funds worth 100 million Shillings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, allegations have since emerged, shedding light on how the COVID-19 cash transfer program in Mombasa County had irregularities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Mwanahamisi Abdalla, a local community leader in Utange, Kitaruni area, the County Government Ward Administrator created a committee to identify vulnerable households.<\/p>\n\n\n\n