By Getrude Matayo
On Wednesday 2nd September, Transport Chief Administration Chris Obure revealed that 21 Covid-19 equipment packages donated to the country by the Jack Ma Foundation in March are missing.
According to Obure, the packages never arrived in the country from Ethiopia where Jack Ma donations for the region were sent before being distributed to various countries.
Chris Obure said what they were supposed to receive was 697 packages but when that consignment arrived in the country it had 21 packages less. The 21 packages never arrived in Kenya so that shortfall was in Ethiopia, not here
He stated that the Ministry of Health has since written to Ethiopia and the Jack Ma Foundation seeking to know the whereabouts of the 21 packages hoping to recover the commodities.
“Personally, I did speak to top officials of the Ministry of Health and they confirmed to me that they are pursuing the matter,” He said
This revelation from Obure comes following a report that some of the Jack Ma Foundation donations were hijacked and sold by senior government officials, a claim that has vehemently been denied by Health CS Mutahi Kagwe.
There have been allegations that Covid-19 donations, including from Ma, were misappropriated or diverted. He said it is his job to put people under pressure so that they can deliver results.
But he noted that part of his job was to coordinate with other agencies to ensure that they serve Kenyans better.
Kagwe’s statement came after suspended KEMSA CEO Jonah Manjari claimed that he was pressured by top Health Ministry officials to procure Covid-19 supplies.