Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has challenged the Nairobi City County’s order directing health facilities to move their accounts from a long-standing tier one bank to a smaller tier three bank.

Sifuna accused the directive of being corrupt, questioning why established health facilities banking with Cooperative Bank, a reputable tier one bank, were suddenly instructed to switch to a tier three bank.

“The health facilities in Nairobi have been banking with Cooperative Bank, a tire one bank with a solid history and reputation. How you wake up one day and instruct all of them to switch to a tier 3 bank cannot be explained in any other way than that corruption is at play,” Sifuna said.

The senator noted that the affected health facilities are major service providers in the city.

He cautioned that overnight changes in the banking arrangements would cast a lot of doubt about governance, stability of operations, and public trust in the management of health resources.

Governance issues and audits

Sifuna highlighted broader governance issues, pointing to the recent audits revealing that counties operate several unauthorised bank accounts, an activity that increases the risk of funds being diverted from their intended purposes.

“When you move all the hospital accounts that have given confidence to a tier-one bank to a weaker one overnight, you are not simply altering a bank; you are altering the risk profile of the health sector. Citizens will ask; Who benefits?” he added.

Also Read: Raila Rests: The Unhealthy State Of Affairs He Leaves Behind

He requested the county government and other concerned agencies to publish:

• The official rationale for the account change at the bank
• Details of the process, including whether a competitive review was conducted
• Publication of all bank accounts of county health facilities and other parties.

Without such disclosure, Sifuna warned, the move will still create a perception of malfeasance.

Also Read: Sakaja Issues Tough Warning to Nairobi Property Owners

Background

The health facility notice is part of a nationwide concern on county financial management.

Audit shows that Nairobi City County has at least 174 unauthorised commercial bank accounts, 123 of which are health facility accounts, which breaches the Public Finance Management (County Governments) Regulations, 2015.

The growth of such accounts complicates the efforts to ensure transparency, traceability, and accountability of public funds.

Sifuna’s call for action aligns with his wider advocacy for improving healthcare access while safeguarding taxpayers’ money.

Steps Demanded by Sifuna

• The decision made to change bank accounts to be independently audited.
• Suspension on further changes until full transparency is achieved.
• Publication of all health-facility banking arrangements.
• Penalties or corrective measures in case of irregularities.

Follow our WhatsApp Channel and WhatsApp Community for instant news updates

A notice from the office of County Governor asking health facilities to shift their accounts from Cooperative bank to Sidian Bank
PHOTO/@Sifuna/X