Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday, August 31, ordered the Ministry of Health to release details of all purchases made during the Covid-19 pandemic, after accusations of misappropriating millions of dollars in essential medical supplies.
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The presidential directive applies particularly to calls for tenders issued by the Kenya Medical Supply Agency (KEMSA), a state body at the center of a growing scandal that has sparked strikes in poorly equipped hospitals, and demonstrations.
Officials and businessmen are accused of stealing $ 400 million in public funds intended for the purchase of medical equipment necessary to fight the new coronavirus.
Last week, Mr. Kenyatta ordered the Anti-Corruption Commission to speed up its investigation into KEMSA, responsible for supplying Kenyan hospitals, overloaded with Covid-19 patients.
The boss of the agency and other senior officials were sacked.
The Head of State also gave 30 days to the Ministry of Health to set up a “
transparent
” system allowing the online publication of KEMSA processes.
Large-scale alleged embezzlement
"
This level of transparency, via technology, will go a long way in ensuring that we have the confidence of our people that those appointed to our institutions are able to manage the resources of Kenyan taxpayers and our partners in development matters in an open and transparent manner,
”President Kenyatta said in a statement.
Medical staff treating Covid-19 patients have complained about the quality of supplies, with some posting images on social media of faulty protective equipment being sent to emergency departments.
Health workers are among the 577 people who have succumbed to the new coronavirus since the first case appeared in Kenya in March, including a 32-year-old nurse, who died two weeks after giving birth.
Doctors in public hospitals went on strike in August, shortly after an investigation was broadcast on television revealing suspected large-scale embezzlement at KEMSA and triggering anti-corruption protests in several cities in Kenya, including Nairobi. .
Kenyan police are also investigating allegations of theft of protective gear donated in March by Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, founder of online sales group Alibaba.
The new coronavirus has infected 34,201 people in Kenya since March, but the number of new infections has fallen in recent weeks.
WHO-Kenya, however, tempered the optimism of the Kenyan authorities.