President Uhuru Kenyatta makes a drive test of a county ambulance purchased with money recovered from a UK company found guilty of bribery to get a Kenyan contract, dubbed the ChickenGate scandal, July 3, 2017. [Photo: PSCU]President Uhuru Kenyatta has handed over to counties seven ambulances purchased with money recovered from a UK company found guilty of bribery to get a Kenyan contract, dubbed the ChickenGate scandal.The ambulances will be used to support the health referral system and will be based at health centers that really need them.The counties which have benefitted are Laikipia, Wajir, West Pokot, Kitui, Elgeyo Marakwet and Nairobi.Governors Joshua Irungu, (Laikipia), Ahmed Abdullahi (Wajir), Simon Kachapin (West Pokot), Julius Malombe (Kitui), Evans Kidero (Nairobi) and Senator Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet) received the ambulances on behalf of their counties.The seven counties have a unique referral system challenges, largely related to remoteness as well as existence of a huge network of primary care facilities in relation to the number of hospitals available to the people.The ambulance vehicles are fitted with Basic Life Support equipment to ensure safe transport of patients.Speaking during the function, Monday, Kenyatta said his government was working closely with the governments of the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Jersey on a tripartite agreement-Framework for the return of assets from corruption and crime in Kenya (FRACCK).According to him, the repatriation of proceeds of corruption arising from the Smith & Ouzman case was a significant step taken by the Kenyan government and that of the United Kingdom to ensure that corruption does not pay and that the corrupt will not enjoy proceeds of crime.“These Ambulances will go a long way in saving lives and enhancing emergency response services in the selected Counties which were in dire need of this support,” said Uhuru at State House.

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