The Council of Governors (CoG) Health Committee Chair Muthomi Njuki has called for changes at the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) board.
Governor Muthomi Njuki proposed changes to allow representation from the council of governors to allow for audit and scrutiny of the agency that has been hit with corruption scandals in recent years.
The governor stated that out of the nine board members in KEMSA, only one was nominated by the Council Of Governors.
''If you look at the Board of KEMSA, out of the 9 members, there is only one member of the Board sitting there having been nominated by the council of governors,'' he noted.
Muthomi also emphasised that county governments are the first customers of the agency, and therefore should be considered in the agency's decision-making.
''As County Governments we want to be involved in the management of KEMSA, we want to have a say on what goes on there and that is not the case at the moment," he added.
Speaking at Safari Park hotel during the opening of a workshop for world players in the medical supplies chain, the Tharaka Nithi Governor accused outside forces of interfering with the agency.
''It is not possible for KEMSA to be autonomous and efficient if they keep on getting instructions from out there,'' Muthomi Njuki remarked.
He also said that the authority had not lived up to its responsibility of supplying enough drugs to devolved units, forcing them to buy from private companies.
He further urged the government to disburse sufficient funds to buy drugs for health facilities.
''We should also give them support by ensuring we have minimal interference by giving them autonomy,'' Governor Muthomi Njuki stated.
KEMSA has witnessed major scandals in the past, with top management and board members sent packing amid a clean-up.
