President William Ruto has reportedly 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 is followed 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.
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.
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, it is notified that His Excellency the President has:
✓.Terminated the appointment of Dr. Josephine Mburu, PhD. as the Principal Secretary, State Department for Public Health & Professional Standards;
✓.Revoked the appointments of the Chairperson and Members of the Board of Directors of Kenya Medical Supplies Authority; and
✓.Appointed Mr. Irungu Nyakera as the Chairperson of the Board in accordance with the procedure set out under Section 5(1) (a) of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority Act.
His Excellency the President has further noted that the Cabinet Secretary for Health has undertaken the following remedial action:
✓. Reconstituted the Board of KEMSA by appointing the following persons as members, namely: FCPA Hezbon Oyieko Omollo, Mr. Bernard Kipkirui Bett, Dr. Jane Masiga and Ms. Jane Nyagaturi Mbatia;
✓. Suspended Ms. Terry Ramadhani, the Chief Executive Officer of KEMSA alongside the following other concerned staff serving within the Ministry of Health (MOH) National Malaria Programme and KEMSA, namely: 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).
✓. Appointed Dr. Andrew Mutava Mulwa as the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA); and Directed the new management to assure 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.
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.
