• The advert was placed just before the tendering period was closed.
•On inquiring she (CS) was informed that the specifications for the mosquito nets had been changed
Image: Magdaline Saya
A series of newspaper adverts on the tender for the supply of mosquito nets drew the attention of authorities to Kemsa.
Health CS Susan Wafula on Wednesday said she was forced to find out what was happening at the authority after she saw an advert in one of the local dailies indicating the tendering period had been extended.
The advert was placed just before the tendering period was closed.
However, a few days later, another advert was placed saying the tendering process had been terminated and the process was expected to start afresh.
“It was at that point that I noticed there was a problem. I asked the CEO to let me know why we are behaving in the papers as though we don’t know what we are doing,” the CS said.
“You cannot be advertising today, the following day you are extending and the day after you are terminating, and the following day you are saying we revert back to where we began.”
On inquiring, she was informed that the specifications for the mosquito nets had been changed.
“She told me she had received instructions for the change of specs and when I found out there were instructions I spoke to Global Fund personally and asked them for the specifications of the nets,” Wafula said.
The Global Fund at the time confirmed that the process was reverted to the original specs hence the CEO was given the go-ahead to proceed with the instructions from the Global Fund.
The CS said as part of the process, the report is given to Global Fund after evaluation for them to give concurrence if procurement should proceed.
In this case, Global Fund declined to approve, pointing to the evaluation process.
The CS has however said the EACC is conducting further investigations into the issue looking at details of the evaluation process.
One of the recommendations from the Global Fund was that they proceed and do the procurement through their system 'wambo.org' due to timelines in an effort to ensure patients get what they need without a gap.
The CS noted that referring the process back to Kemsa would take longer considering the mosquito nets are needed during this rainy season.
“I am in agreement with the Global Fund that the nets shall be procured through wambo.org so that we shorten the time and ensure there are no gaps in supply,” she said.
EACC chairperson David Oginde confirmed that investigations into the matter are ongoing, adding that those found culpable will have their names forwarded to the DPP for further action once the process is complete.
The key areas of focus by the investigations team will be the loopholes that might have facilitated the bungled process, what exactly happened and the people involved.
“We are looking at who are the culpable people and they will be invited for interviews and those found culpable we will forward their names with the relevant evidence to the DPP for further action."
He, however, said it was too early to point at specific individuals because, as the investigative process is still on.