Controversial KEMSA PPEs Worth sh 790 Million Expired

October 22, 2021

KEMSA acting CEO Edward Njoroge pointing at boxes of PPEs [Photos/Courtesy].

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Friday, October 22, 2021 –Sh 790 million protective equipment held at Kenya Medical Supplies Authority KEMSA have expired.

According to Thursday October 22 preliminary report delivered by KEMSA acting CEO Edward Njoroge, it was confirmed that the PPEs which were part of the consignment bought in 2020 remained unused in their storage facilities and can nolonger be fit for human use.

“After getting Cabinet approval to dispose of the PPEs, we found out that items worth Sh790 million have expired. But we are assessing to see if some of the items can still be used,” said Njoroge.

Activities at the Kenya Medical Research Institute KEMSA.

Essentially, a full package PPE comprises gloves, face shield, shoe cover and an overall which have expired in stores while waiting for an official approval by the relevant ministry so that to be sold at market prices.

Though they have been able to sell at most sh 180 worth of items to counties and other private facilities, this had become a challenge to continue because of the price factor.

“The board has met severally over this matter and gave the management permission to dispose of the items to willing customers We have been able to engage counties and referral hospitals but they are saying our prices are very high and that we should march their prices for them to buy from us,” he explained.

Ex-KEMSA Board Chairman Gitura Kembi during grilling session at the Senate.

KEMSA procured its first set of PPES in March 2020 when the country recorded the first case of the virus. It bought N95 (1860) masks at sh 1,300 every piece against the market price of sh 700.

The deal is currently under investigation by the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission EACC which is digging deep into the irregularities arising from the skewed procurement and deliberately inflated prices to benefit tender-preneurs.