•Board chairperson Chao Mwadime said the core operating team will work under a care taker management.
•Mwadime said the release of all staff to work from home is a procedural formality.
Image: ANDREW KASUKU
The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority has directed all non-essential members of staff to work remotely, as it reviews its organisational structure.
This follows the submission of a report and recommendations to the board by the Kemsa Immediate Action Plan and Medium-Term Reforms Working Committee.
In a statement on Thursday, board chairperson Chao Mwadime said the core operating team will work under a care taker management that has been appointed to ensure smooth operations.
"The Board confirms that the necessary interventions have been put in place to avoid undue disruptions to service delivery and day to day operations," she said.
The directive was given on Thursday and is effective Friday, November 5, 2021.
"As the review gets underway and in compliance with legal requirements governing labour management, the Board has issued General Notice Letters to all staff working with Kemsa this morning."
Mwadime said the release of staff to work from home is a procedural formality to facilitate the review of the organisational structure and will be undertaken expeditiously.
She added that continuous engagement with staff will continue in the next 30 days.
"All staff will be engaged and appraised throughout the notice period...The necessary counselling and psychological support will be availed to all staff," Mwadime added.
Mwadime said the committee identified challenges that indicated the authority was underperforming and cannot meet client needs, and this requires immediate attention.
She noted that the challenges will be addressed in terms of the organisation's structure, its governance and the gaps in its procedure and technology.
The Kemsa board chair said that the reforms will provide the foundation for achieving the Big Four Health goals, including the realisation of the Universal Health Care programme.
Mwadime was appointed on April 29, 2021, alongside board members Lawrence Wahome, Lincoln Nyaga, Terry Kiunge Ramadhani, Robert Nyarango, Josephat Mbuva and Mary Atieno.
Their appointments came amid a probe into the multi-million saga that was facing the national drugs supplier over irregularity in awarding tenders.
Mwadime promised to do all that is within her powers to address challenges and threats facing the agency.
"The board will not spare any efforts in ensuring that the shared values are practiced by all and will in the same breadth not hesitate to deal accordingly with any person who choses to follow a different path," she cautioned.
The previous Kemsa board was disbanded by President Uhuru Kenyatta in April.