This archive report was first published on 21 August 2020.
On Friday, August 21, 2020, the Senate Health Committee in Kenya issued a demand for proof of the hospitalization of suspended Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) Chief Executive Officer Jonah Manjari.
Manjari had missed a grilling session, prompting the committee's chairperson, Mbito Michael Malinga, to rule that the Senate Clerk should receive a letter signed by the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) CEO by 2pm before the committee resumed its afternoon sitting.
"We mean business as a committee and we are disappointed that the CEO is not here, because this is the man who oversaw the rot at KEMSA," Malinga said.
Failure to provide the letter would attract major sanctions, Malinga warned.
"It is unfortunate if it's true that he is not feeling well, but for the next three hours, we must get a letter signed by the CEO of the hospital addressed to the clerk because we want to reconvene at afternoon and discuss sanctions if we do not get the letter," Malinga said.
The committee also summoned the KEMSA board next week to give their account on the graft allegations at the agency.
"Our secretariat will be sending letters that we meet board of KEMSA next week, there are reports that the board was doing parallel procurement and so, we want to talk with the board," Malinga added.
