This archive report was first published on 23 August 2020.
August 23, 2020, marked a significant day in Kenya's history as the country witnessed widespread protests over the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority's (KEMSA) alleged corruption.
NTV's investigative feature, led by Dennis Okari, exposed the authority's deep-rooted corruption, which led to the looting of Covid-19 donations.
Protesters took to the streets on August 21, demanding stern action from the national government. However, their peaceful demonstration was met with teargas as anti-riot police dispersed the crowd.
Since its inception in 2005, KEMSA has been plagued by corruption scandals. In 2013, the authority was converted to an autonomous entity in a bid to promote transparency. However, this move only seemed to exacerbate the problem.
Former Auditor General Edward Ouko's report in 2018 highlighted the authority's questionable spending, including lunch allowances amounting to Ksh1,660,990.
The expired drugs scandal of 2018 further rocked the authority, with drugs worth Ksh1.2 billion expiring under their watch. This came at a time when public hospitals were grappling with a severe shortage of drugs and medical supplies.
Following the latest scandal, KEMSA has requested a Ksh5 billion bailout from the national government. However, the authority has failed to account for Ksh17 billion issued in the previous financial year.
International donors, including USAID and Global Fund, have issued warnings that they would withdraw funding following graft claims. Global Fund has stated that it would consider donating medical supplies instead of funds.
Chinese billionaire Jack Ma's missing Covid-19 medical donations were cited as a reference point, with Kenyans warning the global donor against sending medicine.
