KEMSA Suspends CEO Jonah Mwangi And Two Other Directors

By Getrude Matayo

The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) has suspended its Chief executive and two of its directors following the Allegation that the Authority flouted procurement regulations putting at risk 100 billion shillings of donor funds meant for battling the covid-19 pandemic.

KEMSA, which buys drugs for all public health facilities in the country, is on the spot again. A statement on Friday said CEO Jonah Manjari had been suspended alongside directors Eliud Muriithi (Commercial) and Charles June (Procurement)

A preliminary probe by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) revealed that KEMSA officials flouted procurement procedures by direct sourcing and warding a 7.7 billion shillings tender to a company known as Kilig Limited under the cover of emergency needs, despite the fact that they were given three months to supply as opposed to one month.

The board appointed Operations Director Edward Njoroge Njuguna the acting CEO, George Walukana the acting Commercial Director, and Edward Buluma the acting Procurement Director.

Other companies with less than six months in operations received tenders without credible records being presented.

A special audit revealed that KEMSA procured over 1.8 million KN95 masks at a cost of 700 per piece, yet a single mask goes for 450 on the higher side.

KEMSA said it would cooperate with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and other agencies in the probe.

Board chair Kembi Gitura said they are not going to protect anybody found guilty and such persons shall face consequences. He added that they are not going to victimize innocent persons just because there has been a public outcry.