NAIROBI, Kenya, May 15 — Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has suspended Terry Ramadhani as Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) Chief Executive Officer alongside three KEMSA staffers over graft allegations.
The Health CS also suspended 5 Afya House officials working under the Ministry of Health (MOH) National Malaria Programme.
Those suspended 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).
The decision comes following complaints of alleged impropriety within the KEMSA in its management and administration of various medical programmes being undertaken by Kenya in conjunction with its 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,” Head of Public Service Felix Koskei said.
The suspension comes after the Global Fund cancelled Kemsa’s procurement process, which appeared to favour a bidder who did not meet the mandatory requirements.
The tender worth 3.7 Billion shillings was for the supply of treated mosquito nets made of both polyethylene and polyester.
The Global Fund records show that the tender evaluation excluded the only company, China’s Tianjin Yorkool, that met all the required conditions under both Kenyan and Global Fund procurement laws and guidelines.
Mismanaged donor funds
Koskei further stated that the alleged maladministration on the part of KEMSA is with regard to the procurement of treated mosquito nets for vulnerable households, which he says could have led to significant exposure to the disease and increase in its severity in the endemic regions.
He pointed out that the move is an affirmation of President William Ruto’s commitment to “entrenching of good governance within our national life by promoting accountability and openness in the management of public affairs.”
The Head of Public Service who doubles up as Ruto’s Chief of Staff pointed out that President Ruto’s government is committed to heralding a new era in the management of the country’s healthcare by ensuring that no Kenyan will be denied the dignity of affordable medical care due to corruption.
He maintained that the government will do whatever it takes to ensure accountability in the country’s health sector.
The move comes a day after President William Ruto vowed to ‘clean up” KEMSA.
“Watch this space. I am doing something about it. I don’t want to speak about it now, but you will see results,” Ruto said Sunday in a televised joint media interview in reference to the KEMSA scandal.
