Kenyans are staring at an imminent health crisis after a report revealed that Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) had run out of stock.
It emerged that the government agency is lacking 390 out of 462 essential medical supplies.
The agency with a tainted history is now unable to meet the demand for painkillers, antibiotics, gloves, syringes, cotton wool, bandages plasters, pap smear kits and yellow fever vaccines.
KEMSA has been able to meet the demand because the agency owes Ksh4 billion to medical suppliers making it hard to establish a line of credit.
The financial burden seen in KEMSA has been penned by a flurry of payments made to suppliers during the pandemic.
Despite owing other suppliers, KEMSA made a payment of Ksh900 million to suppliers during the pandemic that hit the country in 2020.
This is just one of several questionable decisions that the agency made, leading to possible loss of public funds.
The Global Fund on Tuesday, May 9, cancelled a Ksh3.7 billion mosquito nets tender that had been extended to KEMSA.
While withdrawing their support, Global Fund noted that there was an irregularity in the procurement process as KEMSA favoured unqualified bidders while disregarding others.
During a media engagement session on Sunday, May 14, President William Ruto announced that he was aware of the problems bedevilling KEMSA.
“Watch this space. I am doing something and you will soon see results.
“I want to give Kenyans my commitment that I will clear the scandals in KEMSA,” Ruto vowed.
KEMSA's overall mandate is to procure, warehouse and distribute medical commodities to public health facilities in the Counties.
