Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has vowed to fight corruption in two major state agencies. The two agencies, the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) have been on the spot for corruption in recent weeks.
Since assuming her position, Nakhumicha has been engaged in a fierce battle against cartels that exploit various departments within the ministry for personal gain. Speaking at the opening of St John’s Sirende Catholic Mission Hospital in Trans Nzoia County, she expressed her determination to take action against those involved in corrupt practices within these health institutions.
Nakhumicha specifically highlighted the presence of cartels within KEMSA and assured that appropriate measures would be taken to address the issue. Both KEMSA and NHIF have faced allegations of mismanagement and corrupt activities.
Global Fund cancels tender
KEMSA, for instance, was embroiled in a multi-billion-shilling scandal related to a tender for treated bed nets, leading to its cancellation by the Geneva-based Global Fund. Reports suggested that a Chinese firm, which had met all the tender requirements, was unfairly excluded.
In response to the situation, President William Ruto dismissed the entire KEMSA board and suspended CEO Terry Ramadhani due to the botched tender. Principal Secretary for Public Health Dr. Josephine Mburu was also sacked.
KEMSA embroiled in Covid-19 scandal
In 2021, Kenyan MPs recommended the prosecution of former Senate Deputy Speaker Kembi Gitura and the entire board of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) over the Sh7.8 billion COVID-19 scandal. The parliamentary committee wanted the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate Mr. Gitura, who was the chairman of the board, and the other board members for the role they played in the award of commitment letters to three companies for the supply of Covid-19 equipment.
“The EACC should investigate the alleged interference of Senator Kembi Gitura and Joel Onsare, the then Kemsa board members, with a view of preferring charges against them for violating the Public Officers and Ethics Act,” read the report.
The committee, which was chaired by then Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir (current Governor, Mombasa county), also said suppliers who benefited from inflated prices of face masks should be forced to refund excess payment within one month.
On the other hand, NHIF faced accusations of collusion between its officials and rogue hospitals, resulting in fraudulent deals and unnecessary surgeries being conducted on elderly Kenyans. As investigations continue, branch managers in affected areas have been suspended.
In a recent development, Nakhumicha suspended NHIF branch managers implicated in fraudulent activities involving the insurer’s cards across various regions in the country. A report by Citizen TV and NTV exposed the collusion between certain NHIF staff and healthcare facilities, resulting in significant financial losses for the fund. The Health Cabinet Secretary condemned these unethical practices and emphasized that those involved would face legal consequences as stipulated by the law.
‘Please pray for me,’ Nakumicha
Acknowledging the challenges involved in combating corruption within her portfolio, Nakhumicha emphasized her unwavering determination to dismantle the cartels plaguing the health sector. She expressed confidence in the support of President Ruto and assured Kenyans that the ongoing clean-up efforts at these institutions would yield positive outcomes within the next two months.
Nakhumicha, who is a procurement expert, called on Kenyans to pray for her, acknowledging the risky nature of her endeavors within a sector controlled by powerful cartels.
