Senators grill health ministry officials over budget hike request

The Ministry of Health was hard pressed by the Senate to justify why it needs an additional Sh86 billion under 2025/26 allocation as questions for audit on ministry expenditure arose.

Members of the Senate Departmental Committee of Health chaired by Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago questioned why the ministry needs more billions in light of huge wastage.

In the budget policy statement, the Ministry was allocated Sh204 billion under 2025/26, an increase from Sh118, in the last financial year.

This means that the ministry needs an additional Sh86 billion even as Senators pushed for budget cuts.

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Cabinet Secretary Dr Deborah Barasa, Principal Secretary for State Department of Medical Services Harry Kimtai and PS Public Health Mary Muthoni appeared before the senate, during discussion of the budget policy testament.

The officials said the additional allocation would enable smooth provision of healthcare amid a freeze on foreign aid, but the committee felt increasing budgetary allocation for the ministry would create an avenue for wasting public resources.

PS Kimtai was questioned on a Sh172 billion allocation in the State Department for Medical Services, an increase of 98 per cent from the current Sh91 billion.

Kimtai said part of the funds are meant to build facilities in county governments following presidential declarations while some was allocated to Social Health Authority (SHA) which was not initially included in the budget.

“Our State Department of Public Health grew from Sh118 billion to Sh204 billion. Our state department of medical services grew from Sh91 billion to Sh172 billion. The portion increased from State Department for Medical Services was Sh80 billion. It was domestication of SHA budget that is now a semi-autonomous government agency,” Kimtai said in defense.

The PS’s explanation was however interjected by Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina who said the budgetary increase would clash with roles of county governments such as the construction of hospitals, with health being a devolved function.

“I am really concerned about this budget. I have always had a problem with the ministry's budget. It's time to set up a department to ensure government efficiency because there is a lot of wastage. It is about time that we end this unnecessary wastage of public funds,” the Senator said.

Kimtai was also questioned on disparities in the construction of hospitals across the country.

For instance, in the budget policy statement, Uasin Gishu was allocated Sh700 million for the construction of three hospitals, whereas Turkana was allocated only Sh20 million.

The senators asked why the Western Region, with a population of more than six million people, does not have any single cancer unit, despite growing cases.

The State Department of Public Health requested Sh31 billion, an allocation PS Mary Muthoni said was low.

In her presentation, Muthoni said of the allocation, Sh22.6 billion was for recurrent expenditure, and 4.3 billion on development. Muthoni said in 2024/25, Sh1.7 billion was used for salary arrears for doctors.

The department has requested Sh652 million for primary healthcare to pay 7,900 social workers.

The committee also asked why the ministry had not absorbed employees under UHC.

Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka sought to know when the employees would be paid their arrears, as they are currently on strike.

“Why aren't we able to pay our nurses and doctors? Don’t we have the Sh3.4 billion they are demanding? The public is wondering why we can't just pay doctors and move on,” said Onyancha.

CS Barasa said the employees are on contract until May 2026. “We are ensuring their pay is handled. Discussions are on, and payments have been made. UHC employees at Ministry of Health were confirmed, and we are moving to counties to see how to address the concerns,’ Barasa told the committee.

Further, the CS said the ministry is engaging The National Treasury to allocate resources for the absorption of employees.

The committee directed Barasa to ensure UHC employees are among 20,000 health workers set to be employed under the 2025/26.

Senator Tabitha Mutinda asked about the status of SHA registration amid challenges faced by Kenyans in access to healthcare.

Acting SHA CEO Robert Ingasira said at least 20.5 million Kenyans have been registered under SHA, among them, three million are in formal employment with 1.3 being in informal employment.

But Ingasira said not everyone registered in the new scheme is expected to remit their monthly pay as some are groups under sponsored programs, with some being defendants.