Powerful people have set up a plan to have health Principal Secretary Susan Mochache carry the burden of the billions looted by cartels in the recently exposed COVID-19 scandal
The PS is getting hanged to dry over a letter she allegedly wrote directing the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority to procure Covid-19 supplies from specific firms. However, KEMSA is not obliged to follow any of the Ps' orders since their procurement policies and procedures are superior.
Mochache, whose demotion by President Uhuru Kenyatta was retracted moments after her reshuffle on Wednesday, would now become a person of interest in the Covid-19 millionaires' probe.
Kemsa board chaired by ex-Murang’a Senator Kembi threw Mochache under the bus in the Covid-19 procurements mess arguing that the letter was an order rather than an advisory.
“Disregard all other requests made in relation to COVID as they may have been captured under this approval,” reads the letter tabled before the Health Committee.
The National Assembly Health Committee heard how Mochache wrote to the agency and directed them on how to procure the Covid-19 emergency supplies.
In her letter, which Kemsa officials termed as unusual, dated April 15, Mochache gave specific details to Kemsa on the items they were to procure, listed specific suppliers they were to source them from, as well as the prices. She authorized the procurement of goods worth Sh758.7 million.
In the letter, Mochache directed Kemsa to buy 9,900 pieces from KEMA EA Ltd at Sh700 a piece; 4,000 pieces from Biroyal at Sh700; 2,100 pieces from Encartar Diagnostics at Sh700 per piece and 1,000 pieces from Shil Trading at Sh900 a piece.
The PS also directed the agency to acquire 10,425 full PPE kits from Megascope; 493 from Tikasan Holdings; and 792 from Faram EA at Sh9,500 a piece.
She further instructed Kemsa to source ventilators from Megascope which supplied 30 pieces at Sh2.8 million each; 11.5kg medical oxygen from BOC Kenya and quarantine tents.
Kemsa procurement officer Edward Ndungu told the committee chaired by Muranga Woman Representative Sabina Chege that the PS’s order was full of discrepancies but failed to explain why it was followed through.