From the reports being tabled, President Daniel Moi’s administration and that of his successor Mwai Kibaki did major administrative plunders that are haunting President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration.
But how did the two former President mess up?
Suppliers are demanding Sh58 billion from the Ministry of Health over breached contracts.
The debts arise from the former Presidents Daniel Moi and Mwai Kibaki’s eras.
The ministry yesterday said it has no money to settle the huge debts because they amount to the ministry’s total annual budget.
Principal Secretary Susan Mochache said they have written to Treasury to allocate money to settle some debts.
“In some cases, we will enter into negotiations to lower the amount to levels that we can shoulder,” Mochache told the National Assembly Committee on Health yesterday.
The list of debts was requested by MPs, who are keen that the ministry sheds liabilities as it rolls out Universal Health Coverage.
The Sh58 billion represents the total amount demanded by suppliers who sued the ministry, some as early as 1995.
Some were awarded damages while other cases are ongoing.
The oldest case was filed by United Medical Supplies in 1995 after supplying medical items between 1992 to 1993.
Former Solicitor General Njee Muturi in 2016 proposed an out-of-court settlement because the case had taken 20 years and the ministry was losing.
“At the same time it would pose a challenge to the defendant especially in securing witnesses,” Mochache said yesterday.
United is now demanding Sh15.1 billion, mostly in interest accrued.
Another supplier, Eurotech International, sued in 1999 claiming to be owed Sh76 million over a 1995 contract.
These debts have even made the achievement of Universal Health Care a problem.
Do you think the state will clear the debt?