By Fredrick Njuguna
The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) Chairman, Irungu Nyakera, has refuted claims of illegal appointments within KEMSA.
The claimed allegations suggest that Nyakera hired persons into high-paying positions without doing any public advertisements or following due process as stipulated by the law and KEMSA’s own policies.
The persons in question are said to be personal assistants to the chairman and both drawing in sizeable salaries.
The chairman is under scrutiny as companies associated with his political networks from Murang’a County were allegedly awarded lucrative KEMSA tenders that are worth hundreds of millions of shillings.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission is reported to be investigating these dealings together with the alleged illegal appointments which could impact Nyakera’s leadership.
Authorised suppliers within KEMSA had already raised concerns about the authority operating without an approved list of pre-qualified suppliers and in violation of procurement, during the tenure of acting CEO, Dr. Andrew Mulwa.
Chairman Irungu dismissed the allegations as trolls and bullies attacking KEMSA noting the suspicious timing of these allegations amidst the CEO recruitment exercise.
Additionally, he emphasized that the board will recruit the next KEMSA CEO independently without reference to any social media campaigns that are or might be sponsored by interested parties.
“And for the record, I am immune to trolls and bullies. Bring it on!” wrote Chairman Nyakera on X.