Intrigues behind the sacking of Health PS and entire KEMSA board revealed
CS Nakhumicha reveales intrigues behind sacking of Health PS; only five months into office and entire KEMSA board
CS Nakhumicha reveales intrigues behind sacking of Health PS; only five months into office and entire KEMSA board.
On Monday, May 15, Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha recounted the plots that caused President William Ruto to fire former Public Health PS Josephine Mburu.
The CS said that hours after Mburu’s release, Ruto sought her advice as the Head of State tried to find a resolution to the unfolding Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) mosquito net crisis.
It has not yet been determined whether the PS was engaged in the incident, but Ruto’s call for accountability led to her dismissal, according to Nakumicha.
According to Nakhumicha, Mburu was anticipated to have actively participated in the KEMSA tendering processes as part of her duties as PS, which included serving as the ministry’s financial officer.
She noted that Mburu’s involvement in the scandal would be unravelled once the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) completed its investigations.
“I have been involved in the decision that has been made today. To the best of my knowledge, I have advised the President as his principal advisor.
“Specifically, I would not tell whether she was involved or not. Principal Secretaries are the accounting officers of the ministry. It is expected that in their day-to-day, they will interact with the institutions when it comes to such matters,” she stated.
On the other hand, the CS also maintained that the government was yet to establish the amount of money lost, given that the tender was yet to be awarded.
Notably, Ruto fired the PS a day after promising to take action over the scandal that could have seen Kenya blacklisted by key health donors, including Global Fund.
“I do not want to talk about it now. You will see the results. I want to give you my commitment that we will clean up KEMSA. Whatever it takes,” Ruto asserted during a round table interview with media houses on May 14.
Mburu took an oath of office on December 2, 2022, following her appointment by Ruto. She was the first PS to be fired and served 163 days.
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In addition, Ruto also revoked the appointment of KEMSA chairperson and dissolved the entire board.
The president also suspended Terry Ramadhani as KEMSA Chief Executive Officer alongside eight other staff members namely Martin Wamwea (MOH) and Lenson Kariuki (MOH).
Consequently, the head of state appointed Irungu Nyakera as chairperson of the board and reconstituted the entire board with four new appointees namely FCPA Hezbon Oyieko Omollo, Bernard Kipkirui Bett, Dr. Jane Masiga and Jane Nyagaturi Mbatia.
At the same time, Ruto appointed Dr. Andrew Mutava Mulwa as KEMSA’s Acting CEO.
KEMSA Scandal
Global Fund – the donor for the mosquito nets programme, in its audit, indicated that some ministry officials allegedly embezzled Ksh184 million out of the Ksh3.7 billion allocated.
A refund of the lost money was also demanded, with the donor issuing an ultimatum to officials involved in the scandal.
“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,” Head of Public Service Felix Koskei stated during Mburu’s firing.
This was the second time the donor was demanding a refund.
In March 2023, in another audit, Global Fund revealed that Ksh40 million was misappropriated by health officials involved in an AIDS sensitisation program.
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