President Ruto Cracks the Whip at KEMSA and Fires Health PS Josephine Mburu

Kenya’s Head of State William Ruto has appointed Mr. Irungu Nyakera as the Chairperson of the Board of Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) and fired Health PS Josephine Mburu, a move necessitated by the scandal that has recently rocked the medical supplier. 

In a press release issued by Chief of Staff Felix Koskei, the president noted that the changes are as a result of alleged impropriety of the management and administration of various medical programmes within KEMSA.

This comes days after a Mosquito net tender scandal at KEMSA that could see thousands of Kenyans who depend on the mosquito nets affected.

The purge at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority comes after The Global Fund canceled the 2.7 Billion tender that had been awarded to the authority

The statement noted that the President's move affirms the administration's commitment to establishing an ethos of good governance by promoting accountability and transparency in the management of public affairs.

Furthermore, the head of state has directed the new administration to rebuild the KEMSA supply chain management system in order to ensure efficiency in all health facilities.

“The administration will spare no effort in rebuilding the KEMSA supply chain management system so as to secure efficiency and accountability in the provision of medical supplies to all health facilities across our nation,” said President Ruto.

The President has also appointed Dr. Andrew Mutava Mulwa as the acting Chief Executive Officer of KEMSA succeeding Terry Ramadhani.

The overall mandate of KEMSA is to procure and distribute medical commodities to public health facilities in the country.