The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) is once again under scrutiny after fresh revelations of inconsistencies in procurement documents linked to the supply and delivery of medical items by a local firm during the COVID-19 period.

The concerns emerged during a session of the Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture (PIC-SSAA), which was examining the Auditor-General’s reports on KEMSA’s audited accounts for the financial years 2019/2020 to 2023/2024.

During the hearing, Members of Parliament flagged serious discrepancies in delivery notes, contract signing dates, and acceptance letters tied to the procurement of medical supplies from the local firm. 

The MPs, led by the committee chairperson, pressed the witness to explain how goods were delivered to the authority without a valid contract in place at the time of delivery.

This followed revelations that the supplier delivered items to KEMSA well before the official contract was signed, raising concerns about procedural integrity and accountability.

“There’s a clear mismatch in the sequence of events. You cannot have goods delivered in April 2020, acceptance letters dated May, and then a contract signed two months later in June. It raises serious accountability questions,” Emmanuel Wangwe, the committee chair, noted.

Additionally, documents reviewed by the committee showed that some personal protective equipment (PPE) items were delivered before the contracts authorizing their purchase had been signed.

In addition, the acceptance letters were dated between the delivery and contract signing, raising serious questions about the validity and legality of the entire procurement process.

Additionally, it emerged that some goods were received but not verified on time, further raising concerns about the accountability frameworks within the authority, which has previously faced similar scrutiny.

“The government cannot give you any contract without documentation. You present that document during tendering. If you later seek payment without a proper contract in place, who will be accountable?” Othaya MP Michael Wainaina questioned.

The COVID-19 ghosts also came back to haunt the authority, with reports indicating that despite KEMSA classifying some supplies as urgent, they were delivered later.

When questioned, KEMSA attributed the delays to challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, including lockdowns and reduced activity.

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The committee has since requested all supporting documents to be submitted in full to enable a comprehensive review and verify the authenticity of the transactions.

KEMSA Position

We reached out to a source at KEMSA to shed light on the reported inconsistencies. According to the source, the discrepancies stemmed from the COVID-19 period and are not linked to the current financial years.

KEMSA further clarified that the government had already taken note of the procurement concerns and responded by appointing a new board to oversee and reform the agency.

The authority stated that the reconstituted board has implemented strict measures to prevent similar improprieties from occurring in future operations.

Additionally, KEMSA explained that the recent accusations were based on witness testimonies presented to lawmakers, and emphasized that the agency will be given a chance to formally respond to the issues in upcoming sessions with Parliament.