Governors have made a fresh demand to have more representatives on the board of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority.
Governor Muthomi Njuki, who heads the Council of Governors Health Committee, said they currently have one representative.
“At least 90 per cent of Kemsa commodities end up in our hospitals, but on the board, we’re represented by only one representative from CoG. We feel under represented,” he said at an editor's meeting organised by Kemsa in Mombasa.
“We need representation commensurate to the biz we give Kemsa.”
The board is currently chaired by Irungu Nyakera while the other members include Hezborn Oyieko Omollo, Bernard Kipkirui, Jane Masiga and Jane Mbatia.
This is not the first time governors are making such a demand.
In 2019, nominated Senator Mary Seneta, pushed for two representatives in amendments to the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority Act 2013.
The proposed changes required the Health Cabinet Secretary to consult governors before making any regulations touching on Kemsa.
"The proposals seek to have the voice of counties represented in the board since the amount of business the counties are likely to generate for the authority is high and therefore only fair for the counties to have a say in the board of the authority," said Seneta.
"The Bill proposes to amend section 21 of the Act to provide that the council (of governors) must be consulted before the Cabinet Secretary makes any regulations under the act," said a statement of the objects and reasons for the current Bill.
