Governor Mutahi Kahiga has reversed his earlier remarks suggesting counties were coerced into joining the National Equipment Service Program (NESP). Governor Mutahi Kahiga had alleged coercion in signing the National Equipment Service Program (NESP) contracts.
The governor, who initially claimed county governments had no choice in signing the contracts, clarified his position on Friday, December 6, stating his comments were misinterpreted. Speaking to reporters, Kahiga explained that while individual counties were not directly consulted, the Council of Governors (CoG) had represented their collective interests during the negotiations.
“The confusion might have come because the Senate was addressing Nyeri as a county, and I said clearly even Kisii, Baringo, and any other county were not involved as a county but was involved through the Council of Governors, whom we mandated.
So as of now I would speak, as the Vice Chair of the Council of Governors and say this is one is the very best program for us. Let us stop saying it is shrouded in mystery; it is not,” the county boss stated.
How did Ruto tell off Kahiga Kahiga’s remarks come just a day after President William Ruto issued a scathing rebuttal to claims that governors were forced to sign the NESP contracts. Defending the program, Ruto insisted that the agreements were entirely voluntary and criticised governors who suggested otherwise. Ruto’s strong stance was a direct response to Kahiga’s testimony before the Senate’s health committee, where he had questioned the lack of choice for counties in onboarding the NESP.
“Anybody who says they were forced by the national government to sign whatever contract, they are conmen and liars. No Governor was forced. Mung’aro is here, Abdulswamad is here, you’d be a fool to be forced to sign the wrong thing and then come and talk about it.
Kwani wewe ni mjinga kiasi gani,” Ruto stated. The NESP program, which involves multi-billion-shilling contracts, aims to equip county hospitals with modern medical equipment through service providers who bill the National Insurance Authority for services rendered.
by Didacus Malowa
