CS Nakhumicha Puts Top Govt Officials On Radar After KEMSA Scandal

Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha, on Wednesday, May 17 launched a no-holds-barred verbal attack on senior government officials on a mission to loot public coffers meant for sick Kenyans.

Speaking in Nairobi during the launch of the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC)'s report on Corruption and Unethical Conduct in Kenyan Healthcare Projects, a tough-talking Nakhumicha uncovered botched attempts to have EACC investigate malpractices at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) in the wake of a Ksh4 billion scandal on mosquito nets.

According to her, some high-ranking officials within her ministry had tried to curtail her efforts to convince EACC to step in on the matter but nonetheless expressed that the anti-corruption body deployed officers to probe the scandal.

Health CS, Susan Nakhumicha speaking during the launch of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Survey Report on May 17, 2023. /MINISTRY OF HEALTH

"Last week on Thursday, immediately after the release of that report, I wrote a letter to EACC asking them to come and investigate. When I spoke to EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak on Monday to inquire whether he had received my letter, he said he hadn't," said Nakhumicha.

"That is how corruption fights back in this country. EACC is only a few metres away from my office but by Monday the letter had still not arrived. Thankfully Mbarak told me that he has since deployed his officers to investigate the scandal."

She further noted that the senior government officials, whom she did not name, were aimed at profiting from patients who needed urgent medical care, something she swore she would not allow.

"There are people in this country who are hell-bent to enrich themselves on the backs of patients money.

"This is very shameful. Very shameful and I'm not going to allow it," she added.

On his part, EACC Chairperson David Oginde revealed that the agency was looking into the scandal, vowing to leave nothing to chance, on arguably his first major assignment since assuming office on Tuesday, May 9.

"We have a whole investigative department that is looking into the scandal. They will look at what exactly happened at KEMSA and who were involved.

"Suspects will be invited for interviews and we'll forward the names of those found culpable to the DPP for further action," promised Oginde.

The EACC report uncovered the extent of corruption and unethical conduct in healthcare projects in the counties, with 80.6 per cent of members of the public acknowledging the prevalence of corruption and unethical conduct in the health sector projects implemented in counties.

According to the report, 88 per cent and 93.7 per cent of health staff and members of the public respectively admitted that corruption and unethical conduct were widespread in the health sector.

Additionally, half of the health staff (50.9 per cent) and 43.5 per cent of contractors mentioned tendering as the phase of procurement where corruption and unethical conduct were most likely to occur.

43.5 per cent of the health staff identified tender awards as the stage most plagued by corruption and unethical conduct. On the contrary, most contractors (34.1 per cent) identified tender evaluation as the stage with the highest prevalence of corruption and unethical conduct.

EACC found that favouritism constituted 20.8 per cent, conflict of interest (19.5 per cent) and bribery (16.3 per cent) were identified as the main forms of corruption in the health sector.

The report emerged following a dramatic shakeup in the Health Ministry which saw President William Ruto disband the entire KEMSA board, sack Josephine Mburu as the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards and initiate his first reshuffle affecting seven PSs since assuming office on September 13, 2022.

KEMSA premises in Nairobi. /FILE