A recent audit by the Auditor General has uncovered extensive financial irregularities within the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) during the 2021-2022 fiscal year, sparking widespread public outrage and demands for accountability. The report reveals a disturbing diversion of Sh8.9 billion worth of cancer drugs intended for Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) to private hospitals, as well as a series of other financial discrepancies that have further eroded public trust in the institution.
The audit details how Sh572 million in medical supplies were allocated to 275 non-existent health facilities, raising serious concerns about the integrity of KEMSA’s operations. Additionally, Sh56 million worth of health products were issued to private hospitals but were incorrectly billed to the government, suggesting a deliberate attempt to defraud public funds.
In a particularly egregious example of mismanagement, Sh867 million in health supplies were distributed to 1,651 private facilities without any proof of free distribution, pointing to systemic flaws in the oversight and accountability mechanisms at KEMSA.
The findings of this audit have placed KEMSA under intense scrutiny, with calls for swift action against those responsible. Irungu Nyakera, the chairman of KEMSA and a former Principal Secretary, has come under particular focus due to his ongoing court cases and the significant failures highlighted in the report. The revelation that cancer drugs donated to KNH were diverted to private hospitals has been especially infuriating, given the vital importance of these medications to public health.
As the scandal unfolds, pressure is mounting on KEMSA and the relevant authorities to take decisive action to address the corruption and mismanagement that have plagued the organization. The public is demanding transparency and justice for the gross misallocation of resources meant to serve the nation’s most vulnerable populations.