The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has issued a "red-flag" warning to Kenya, indicating that it is now seriously thinking of ending its aid program in the African nation. The fund earmarked about $10.5 million for its two-year grant that began in October 2003 but only allowed the disbursement of $4.6 million owing to the government?s lack of accountability and laggard use of cash. Once the grant expires, the country could lose the rest of the money amounting to $5.4 million. Ministry of Health spokesman Richard Abura said the government spoke with the fund on the issue and the discussions ended with an agreement to allow the release of the remaining cash at a later date. Abura defended the state?s slow spending and ascribed the delay to the fund?s tough guidelines, which, he said, seek to discourage corruption. (Source: Kenya could lose Sh400m grant from Global Fund/The Standard, Kenya)
