Coronavirus: Kenyan Health minister distances self from pandemic supplies rip off

31 Août 2020

Nairobi, Kenya, August 31 (Infosplusgabon) - Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, on Monday denied having a hand in a US$70,260 coronavirus medical supplies scam.

Kagwe said those accusing him of having a hand in the health ministry's pandemic supplies procurement rip off are out to fight him politically.

He denied pressuring the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency to skew tenders in favour of specific firms.

The Cabinet Secretary was named, among senior officials, by suspended Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) CEO, Dr Jonah Manjari, who appeared before a joint Senate Health and Ad Hoc Committee on the pandemic where he was tasked to explain an expenditure

The government is feared to have lost US$70,260  in the tendering scam, in which tenders were awarded without clearance by KEMSA.

In all, there are fears the government lost billions of Kenya shillings in the wider rip off.

The other senior ministry official named was Principal Secretry, Dr Susan Mochache.

Manjari also pointed an accusing finger at an another official he simply identified  as 'brigadier.'

They were the ones making requests, including making numerous in person visits, to prevail upon the agency’s executives to expedite award of tenders for procurement of the pandemic supplies.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has since given investigating agencies 21 days to complete the probe.

He wants the matter expedited and those found culpable brought to book.

In another fraud issue,  a county governor accused of embezzling  US$674,870, was freed by a Nairobi court on a $78,580 cash bail.

Migori County Governor, Okoth Obado, was also barred from accessing his county office.

Obado and his four children were charged in the graft case, were granted cash bails ranging between US$27,734 and US$23,112.

The money, drawn from the county accounts, was partly used to pay school fees and upkeep of the children studying in Australia and Scotland.

It also purchased two fuel guzzling Toyota Prado V8s and a house in a leafy Nairobi suburb, according to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Six other accused persons were granted cash bails ranging between Sh$54,460 and $73,958 with an alternative bond of US$92,448.

FIN/ INFOSPLUSGABON/AFD/GABON2020

© Copyright  Infosplusgabon