• On Monday, Ruto gazetted Irungu Nyakera's appointment as the new chairperson of the Board of Directors of Kemsa.
• Kemsa CEO Terry Ramadhan was also suspended, alongside other key members of staff.
Image: FILE
Newly appointed Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) board chairperson Irungu Nyakera has said that the new team will clean the mess created at the agency.
In a statement on Tuesday, Nyakera said the task ahead will not be easy for him and the new team.
He, however, assured Kenyans that they were up to the task.
Nyakera also thanked President William Ruto for believing in him to lead change in the organisation that has been marred with graft allegations for the past few years.
"Today I wake up to a new role as the Chairperson of Kenya Medical Supplies Authority. The agency has been riddled with graft for the last few years and I thank His Excellency President William Ruto for believing in me to deliver KEMSA from the mess. We will clean the mess, that I can assure Kenyans. It certainly won’t be easy, so help me God," he said.
Before his appointment, Nyakera was the party leader of the Farmers Party, an affiliate of the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
On Monday, Ruto gazetted Irungu Nyakera's appointment as the new chairperson of the Board of Directors of Kemsa.
"I, William Samoei Ruto, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces of the Republic of Kenya, appoint Irungu Nyakera as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from 15th May 2023," the gazette notice dated May 15, read.
His appointment followed the firing of Daniel Rono. Kemsa CEO Terry Ramadhan was also suspended, alongside other key staff members.
Rono's dismissal followed the cancellation of the Sh3.7 billion mosquito net tender by the Global Fund. The Fund cited irregularities in the tender procurement.
Further, Health CS Susan Wafula has also gazetted the appointment of four new board members.
They include Hezbon Oyieko Omollo, Bernard Kipkirui Bett, Jane Masiga and Jane Nyagaturi Mbatia.
On Sunday, President Ruto in an interview promised to clean the 'mess' at Kemsa.
"I am doing something about it. You will see results. I want to give you my commitment, I will clean up KEMSA, whatever it takes, whatever it costs," he said.