His Excellency President William Ruto of Kenya has fired the Principal Secretary of State Department for Public Health Dr Josephine Mburu over alleged impropriety within the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA).
Through a notification of presidential action dated May 15, the Head of State has also reconstituted the KEMSA board by appointing former gubernatorial candidate Irungu Nyakera as the new chairperson and three other members whose names have been gazetted by Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha.
The changes come in the wake of yet another scandal by the state corporation involving a Ksh3.7 billion tender for the supply of treated mosquito nets intended to help millions of low-income households prevent malaria.
The Global Fund, the sole financier of the tender was forced to cancel citing a flawed procurement process.
KEMSA CEO Terry Ramadhani who has vehemently defended the procurement process maintaining no tax payers’ money was lost has been suspended alongside top officials serving within the Ministry of Health (MOH) National Malaria Programme and KEMSA.
Those affected are Martin Wamwea (MOH), Lenson Kariuki (MOH), Dr Pauline Duya (MOH), Livingstone Njuguna (MOH), Dr. Charles Kariuki Chege (MOH), Justus Kinoti (KEMSA), Cosmas Rotich (KEMSA) and Anthony Chege (KEMSA).
Dr. Andrew Mutava Mulwa has replaced Ms Ramadhani in an acting capacity. as the Acting Chief Executive Officer.
Also newly appointed to the KEMSA board are Hezbon Oyieko Omollo, Mr. Bernard Kipkirui Bett and Dr. Jane Masiga.
In the notification issued by the Head of the Public Service, Felix Koskei said the President had been briefed on the complaints of alleged impropriety within the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) in its management and administration of various medical programmes being undertaken by Kenya in conjunction with our development partners.
“THE COMPLAINTS FOLLOW the regular verification of expenditure by the Global Fund with regard to the National Malaria Programme that targets millions of low income Kenyan households within our nation’s malaria endemic regions” it read.
“ The alleged maladministration on the part of KEMSA is with regard to the procurement of treated mosquito nets for those vulnerable households, which could have led to significant exposure to the disease and increase in its severity in the endemic regions” it explained.
It went further to state that the changes undertaken by the President were in affirmation of the administration’s commitment to entrenching ethos of good governance within our national life by promoting accountability and openness in the management of public affairs.
In 2021 under the Jubilee administration, the agency was embroiled in a similar mega scandal at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic that cost taxpayers at least Ksh7.8 billion.
Amid mounting pressure and uproar, retired President Uhuru Kenyatta was forced to send the entire board packing.
The new management has been directed to assure the propriety of procurement processes within the Authority.
“The Head of State and Government is committed to heralding a new era in the management of our nation’s healthcare by ensuring that no Kenyan will be denied the dignity of affordable medical care due to corruption” the new members were advised.
The President assured no effort will be spared to ensure accountability and efficiency.
“Therefore, in keeping with the Administration’s Health policy of “leaving no one behind”, the Administration will spare no effort in rebuilding the KEMSA supply chain management system so as to secure efficiency and accountability in the provision of medical supplies to all health facilities across our nation.