Delays in major health projects raise alarm over wasted funds

KENYA – Auditor General Nancy Gathungu has sounded the alarm over extensive delays in several high-stakes health projects, highlighting that these setbacks have already cost the government over Sh1.1 billion (US $8.5 million) in wasted funds.

In her report for the financial year ending June 2024, Gathungu detailed significant delays affecting key projects that are vital for enhancing Kenya’s healthcare system.

One of the most concerning delays is at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Paediatric Emergency and Burns Management Centre.

Originally scheduled for completion in 2020, this critical facility remains unfinished despite Sh1.1 billion already having been spent.

The center is intended to be a cornerstone for treating severely ill children and managing burns, with plans to include 82 general ward beds, 14 intensive care unit (ICU) beds, and 6 high-dependency unit (HDU) beds dedicated to burns patients.

 In addition, it would also have 82 general ward beds, 24 ICU beds, and 6 HDU beds specifically for pediatric care.

The persistent delays have not only disrupted the provision of essential services but have also contributed to hospital overcrowding and preventable deaths, exacerbating the broader health crisis in the country.

The Auditor General’s report also casts a critical light on financial mismanagement. Gathungu noted that avoidable interest on late payments, amounting to Sh. 68,043,601 (US $525,433), could have been prevented if contractual payment obligations had been met on time.

Furthermore, the report questioned the value for money of Sh. 34,047,734 (US $262,916) spent on the construction of the Pediatric Emergency and Burns Management Centre.

Another major project facing delays is the Kisii Cancer Centre, which was slated for completion in 2016. Despite securing funding nearly a decade ago and awarding a contract in January 2024, no physical construction had commenced by June 2024.

This stagnation has left many cancer patients without access to life-saving treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and palliative care.

The financial investments already made in medical equipment and furniture remain unutilized, further highlighting the inefficiencies and lost opportunities in the current system.

In addition to the pediatric and cancer centers, the East Africa Kidney Institute Centre of Excellence—valued at Sh. 3.7 billion (US $28.57 million)—continues to be mired in delays.

With Sh2.79 billion (US $21.54 million) already expended, this five-storey facility, designed to include wards, laboratories, operating theatres, high-dependency units, consultation rooms, and car parks, has yet to materialize.

The prolonged construction period for such a vital project is particularly worrisome given the urgent need for improved kidney care services in the region.

Moving forward, the Auditor General has called for a comprehensive review of project management practices and stricter adherence to contractual obligations.