COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented disruption to people’s livelihoods and leaves a sorrowful trail of sickness and death globally. With no definitive treatment available and no end in sight, the Kenyan government, like most governments worldwide have invested heavily in a frantic effort to bend the course of the epidemic and protect millions of its citizens whose vulnerability might be aggravated by poverty, weak health infrastructure, overcrowded informal settlements, and poor access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene.

Unfortunately, the pandemic has also added fuel into the engines of corruption. The vice exploits the absence of traditional oversight channels, lack of openness in most counties concerning the receipt and use of monies channelled from the national government and other partners, as well as the general atmosphere of fear, limitations on travel and gathering, and oversimplification of procurement rules to meet urgent need for medical supplies and human resources.

Gains against the epidemic can be amplified if opaqueness is removed from the management of COVID-19 response funds and more accountability and responsiveness is injected. With this, trust of the public, donors and partners in the management of resources for fighting the pandemic will be rebuilt, and the much-needed synergy and cooperation will be created to finally bring the pandemic to an end. This is the missing link that Edenwise DP is addressing through the UWEZO MASHINANI project, starting in Kisumu County with prospects of expanding to other counties in the lake region economic block pending availability of funds.