This archive report was first published on 23 August 2020.
COVID-19 Billionaires Scandal Rocks Kenya ¶
August 23, 2020, marked a significant day in the COVID-19 billionaires scandal as Tony Gachoka, a staunch ally of President Uhuru Kenyatta, accused Jubilee chairman David Murathe of masterminding the scandal.
Gachoka, a former aide to Raila Odinga, made the allegations in a series of tweets, claiming that Murathe was behind the theft of Sh43 billion set aside for the pandemic.
According to Gachoka, the COVID-19 scandal at KEMSA was orchestrated in the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPEs) and medical supplies, with procurement procedures not adhered to and supplies acquired at exaggerated rates.
Donations from Jack Ma were also said to have been disappeared, causing panic and chaos amongst Kenya's foreign donors. Global Fund has already withdrawn cash grants, and USAID is demanding accountability from the Ministry of Health on Kemsa scams and considering withdrawing their grants.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has come out fiercely, saying the people behind the looting of funds will be dealt with. EACC has been directed to pick up the case, and the DCI is said to be on the trail.
Neither Kenneth nor Murathe has responded to the allegations against them by Gachoka. Two companies mentioned in the COVID-19 millionaires scandal, Megascope and Crown Healthcare Ltd, have threatened to sue NTV for linking them to the scam.
ODM has responded to the KEMSA scandal, saying the issue has been over-sensationalized by the media, claiming the information is not only half-baked but based on shadowy sources. The party also faulted the DCI for rushing investigations without getting credible approval from the office of the auditor general.
Kemsa has since denied any loss of money allocated to them as they seek Sh5B bailout from the treasury.
