Calls for DCI to investigate ministry staff

David Owiyo

Governors and two legislators have told Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to widen its probe on the  multi-billion-shilling Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) Covid-19 supplies procurement tender scandal following the suspension of top managers.

The elected leaders also told EACC to investigate Ministry of Health top officials who they blamed for mismanaging Kemsa.

 Council of Governors (CoG) chairman, Wycliffe Oparanya and MPs Samuel Atandi (Alego/Usonga) and Elisha Odhiambo (Gem) said thorough investigations should be conducted in order to bring to book culprits in the scandal.

Addressing a news conference at his Karen residence yesterday, Oparanya vowed that the counties will fight the Procurement Act-that was passed by parliament giving the agency monopoly to sell drugs – to the bitter end.

“We are not going to accept a Procurement Act that does not allow for competitive sourcing of drugs by the counties.

We should be allowed to procure from any source so long as the commodities are quality and have a competitive pricing,” he said.

Atandi on the other wants EACC to probe Kemsa on drug funds misuse to extend the purge to the Ministry of Health where he believes corruption is thriving.

The first-time MP said it is the MOH that micromanages Kemsa and most companies benefiting from tenders were submitted by senior government officials at the ministry.

The MP said there is a strong connection and extension of corruption in Kemsa and Accounting officer at the MOH.

“I want to join donors and World bank to push for Audit of Kemsa for accountability purposes and would like the EACC to extend the perge to the ministry of health for it manages Kemsa by directing the agency to give tenders to their companies.

Atandi while speaking at a burial in Bondo on Saturday said the EACC should question the accounting officer at the health ministry on roles he was playing in connection to Kemsa.

“We have observed that resources deposited in Kemsa have been abused. Drugs are being bought on inflated prices,” said Atandi adding that its such rot at the agency that has seen two of its directors and CEO stepping aside to pave way for investigations.

Odhiambo, on the other hand asked the government to conduct an audit of all the companies that were awarded the tenders for the supply of personal protective equipment (PPEs) to ascertain how the Covid-19 funds were expended

He said they have established that some of those companies that supplied the PPEs don’t have an indication of who their directors are.