Former Health Principal Secretary Peter Tum, currently serving in the Youth Affairs and Sports docket int he same capacity, has denied any involvement in the controversial Ksh3.7 billion procurement scandal that engulfed the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA).
Testifying before the Senate Committee on Health that is currently investigating alleged irregularities in the purchase of mosquito nets, Tum distanced himself from the tendering process, which was abruptly terminated after it was revealed that Kemsa had selected an unqualified bidder for the Global Fund.
Tum said that the responsibility for the procurement fell squarely under the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, which was then under Dr. Josephine Mburu.
According to Tum, Dr. Mburu’s department oversaw matters related to malaria and tuberculosis, including the procurement of nets. Interestingly, Dr. Mburu, who was dismissed during the recent crackdown on corruption, implicated Tum by claiming that the program fell under his jurisdiction.
Despite these accusations, Tum maintained that Kemsa was under the jurisdiction of the Medical Services department until March 2023, clarifying that his department solely dealt with HIV matters. Dr. Mburu, who faced intense questioning by the committee earlier this month, distanced herself from any wrongdoing.
While urging the Senate to conduct a thorough and swift investigation to identify the true culprits, the former PS called for a fair hearing and the pursuit of justice. As part of the ongoing anti-graft campaign, numerous high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Health and KEMSA, including CEO Terry Ramadhani, have been suspended. The committee, led by Senator Jackson Mandago, has also summoned representatives from the Global Fund to provide insight into the matter.
The Global Fund had initially floated tenders for the supply of 10.2 million long-lasting polyethene and polyester nets to be distributed from November to July next year as part of an extensive campaign against malaria.
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