Safi news

President William Ruto has terminated the appointment of Dr Josephine Mburu as the Principal Secretary in the State Department of Public Health and Professional Standards

President, swept the whole management, of Kenya Medical Suppliers Authority, after the allegations of impropriety, revoking the appointments of the Chairperson and Members of the Board of Directors

However, Dr Ruto appointed Irungu Nyakera as the new Chairperson of the KEMSA, in accordance with the procedures set out under section 5(1)(a) of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority Act, 2013 (No. 20 of 2013)

The Cabinet Secretary for Health has also taken remedial action, which includes reconstituting the Board of KEMSA and suspending the Chief Executive Officer of KEMSA, Terry Ramadhan, alongside other concerned staff serving within the Ministry of Health National Malaria and KEMSA

President William Ruto was taking action in response to the alleged corruption within the KEMSA in relation to the management and administration of various medical programmes being undertaken by Kenya with her development partners

The complaints came to light during regular expenditure verification by the Global Fund with regard to the National Malaria Programme, which targets millions of low-income Kenyan households in the country’s malaria endemic regions

The alleged maladministration by the public procurement and disposal authority, on part of Kemsa is related to the procurement of treated mosquito nets for those vulnerable households

This, could have led to significant exposure to the disease and an increase in its severity in the widespread regions

Dr Adrew Mutava Mulwa has been appointed as the Acting Chief Executive Officer of KEMSA

The new management has been directed to assure propriety of procurement processes within the Authority

Others appointed in reconstituting the board are, Hezbon Oyieko Omollo, Bernard Kipkirui Bett, Dr Jane Masiga and Ms Jane Nyagaturi Mbatia and suspended other concerned staffs serving in the Ministry of Health including Martin Wamwea, Lesson Kariuki, Dr Pauline Duya, Livington Njuguna, Dr Charles Kariuki Justus Kinoti Cosmas Rotich and Anthony Chege

The President said he is committed to ensuring that every Kenyan has access to affordable medical care, and no one is denied their dignity due to corruption

In an interview with the joint press, on Sunday 14^th May, the Head of State said he would do whatever it takes to clean up the agency

“Watch this space, I am doing something about it. You will see results. I want to give you my commitment I will clean up Kemsa, whatever it takes, whatever it costs, I will clean it up,’’ Ruto said

KEMSA has denied the Global Fund’s report of irregularities in the procurement of Sh3.7 billion mosquito net

I an interview with local TV station, KEMSA CEO Terry Ramadhan defended the agency’s technical evaluation report and the tender evaluation committee, insisting that they followed due procedures

The Global Fund’s audit report accused KEMSA of engaging in peccadilloes during the procurement process and raised alarms about several procurement gaps, including the lack of pagination and uniformity in identification of the winning and losing bidders, as well as a request for manufacturing certificate from a specific manufacturer

Identification of KEMSA

Kenya Medical Supplies Authority [KEMSA] is a state corporation in the State Department of Medical Services whose Principal Secretary is Eng. Peter K. Tum