NAIROBI, Kenya, May 15 — President William Ruto has revoked KEMSA Board appointments and named ex-Principal Secretary Irungu Nyakera the new Chairperson alongside 4 Board Members.
The reconstitution of the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) was announced as part of a radical surgery that saw the agency’s CEO suspended alongside three staffers.
Nyakera will replace Daniel Rono who was appointed into the position in February.
The Farmers’ Party of Kenya Leader who served as Transport Principal Secretary unsuccessfully vied to become Murang’a County Governor in the 2022 General Election.
Ruto appointed FCPA Hezbon Omollo, Bernard Bett, Jane Masiga, and Jane Mbatia as board members.
KEMSA has been on the spotlight for numerous allegations of corruption and mismanagement of medical supplies.
The agency is accused of bungling a Sh3.7 billion tender for the supply of treated mosquito nets intended to help millions of low-income households prevent malaria.
The move will also deny the country earnings to the tune of Sh600 million and put at risk over 10 million people who are expected to benefit from the nets.
The Global Fund, which was to finance the antimalaria programme, cancelled the initiative citing flawed tendering.
KEMSA was accused of awarding the tender to a bidder who did not meet the mandatory requirements.
The Ministry of Health and the Global Fund had earlier clashed on the specifications of the nets to be delivered. This resulted in an amendment of the tender and the extension of the same.
KEMSA’s public image was further impacted by an Auditor-General’s report that showed the validity and accuracy of the agency’s inventory balance, including pharmaceutical and other stocks of Sh17.3 billion, could not be confirmed.
