MPs Plot to Raid Govt Warehouse

A Kemsa warehouse in Nairobi.
A Kemsa warehouse in Nairobi.
File

Kenyan legislators plan to break into the warehouses belonging to the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) on Thursday, December 10 - Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabbir has revealed.

Speaking during the International Anti-corruption Day in Kiambu, the ODM MP stated that they would resort to extreme measures to address the shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) in the country.

"Tomorrow, I personally will lead a group of MPs to KEMSA to break in and going to take out the PPEs they are hiding there," Shabirr who is also the chairperson of the African Parliamentarians' Network Against Corruption declared.

He added that the KEMSA officials had disregarded the directives by the parliamentarians to distribute the PPEs to counties.

Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabbir
Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabbir
Twitter

"The KEMSA officials are not listening to our demands and we have to take action. We have to get physical in an active way," he added.

On Wednesday, December 9, CAS Mercy Mwangangi, appeared before the Senate Health Committee where she assured that KEMSA would start releasing PPEs from their warehouses by Friday.

She explained that there was a delay because of procedures that had to be followed to allow the release of the protective gear.

Speaking during a meeting with the Senate Health Committee on Wednesday last week, Dr. Mwangangi said the authority would be informed of the decision to have the PPEs sold at an affordable price.

"We must be aware of the correct process that must be undertaken. Things must be done procedurally.

"PPEs will be released at the current local price irrespective of the losses that would be incurred," she stated.

CS Kagwe had in November 2020, directed the authority to release all the items instead of just holding them in bulk at the warehouses.

Selling at the current market prices would make the institution incur a loss of up to Ksh2.3 billion to clear the dead stock of the Covid-19 commodities.

The stock worth Ksh6.2 Billion was part of the consignment that was acquired at inflated prices at the beginning of the pandemic.

Former Health Ministry Chief Administrative Secretary Mercy Mwangangi addressing the media in April 2020.
Former Health Ministry Chief Administrative Secretary Mercy Mwangangi addressing the media in April 2020.
Photo
Mercy Mwangangi
  • . .