Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) on Wednesday, suspended one of its directors to facilitate the authority to carry out independent investigations amid claims that the department is marred in corruption.
The authority also reshuffled twenty-three employees from the procurement department to other departments while carrying out investigations.
According to KEMSA's board chairperson, Irungu Nyakera, the reshuffles and suspension were necessitated by the receipt of an audit report for July to December 2023, which revealed inconsistencies in issuing tenders.
“This meticulous approach has encompassed the evaluation of short, medium and long-term strategies to enhance operational efficiency across various domains notably, procurement finance, governance and risk management, human resources, IT and support systems, warehousing and logistics systems,” stated Nyakera.
Further, Nyakera announced that the authority will be cutting back the number of employees from 734 to 564 in a move expected to improve the efficiency of the organisation.
While addressing journalists, Nyakera stated that the board was working on new human resource measures as a result of the findings of the audit.
He stated that the audit report had revealed operational inefficiencies and demotivation among the employees which was cited as a factor behind the organisation’s poor performance.
"Further the board is working on developing new Human Resource Instruments in the next three months to have optimal staff numbers for the authority, elaborated Nyakera.
Additionally, Nyakera noted that the Authority was in a Ksh6 Billion debt with four counties being mentioned as the biggest defaulters on debt repayments.
Homabay, Nairobi, Kakamega and Taita Taveta were implicated by KEMSA over their delayed remittance, with Nyakera urging them to repay the debts.
KEMSA had been on the spot for failing to pay contractors and suppliers for over Ksh16 million of goods and services supplied to the authority for works dating back to 2013.
This comes after the organisation's board was reshuffled after calls by the Council of Governors with Nyakera being appointed as the board's chairperson.
