KENYA— The Ministry of Health’s Cabinet Secretary, Nakhumicha S. Wafula, has announced the appointment of Andrew Mutava Mulwa as the new Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA).

This decision is part of the government’s efforts, led by the Kenyan President, to address the agency’s tarnished image both locally and internationally.

Andrew Mutava Mulwa’s appointment comes in the wake of the suspension of former CEO Terry Ramadhani, who faced allegations of corruption in the management of a multi-billion malaria program funded by the Global Fund.

As a result, the Minister also suspended five officials from the Ministry of Health who were involved in the National Malaria program, including Dr. Josephine Mburu, the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards.

President Ruto further took action by revoking the appointments of the Chairperson and Members of the Board of Directors of KEMSA. In their place, Irungu Nyakera was appointed as the new Chairperson of the Board.

KEMSA has been under scrutiny for its alleged mismanagement of various medical programs carried out in collaboration with development partners in Kenya.

The agency faced significant consequences when the Global Fund canceled KEMSA’s procurement process, citing favoritism towards a bidder who did not meet the necessary requirements.

During the investigation, it was revealed that Partecea East Africa had been selected as the winning bidder by the KEMSA Technical Evaluation Committee, despite the Global Fund audit finding that none of the bids were responsive.

As a result, the Global Fund unequivocally revoked the US$26 million and raised concerns about KEMSA’s technical evaluation report, highlighting procurement gaps such as the lack of pagination and inconsistencies in identifying winning and losing bids.

In an interview with a local media station, Ms. Ramadhani dismissed the findings of the donor audit review and insisted that the technical evaluation report conducted by the authority was accurate.

She defended the tender evaluation committee, highlighting that it consisted of professionals who performed their duties with integrity.

This recent scandal adds to the challenges faced by KEMSA, which is still recovering from the controversies surrounding the flawed procurement of Covid-19 drugs and personal protective equipment during the height of the pandemic.

As an accomplished public health professional, Andrew Mulwa has been entrusted with the responsibility of leading KEMSA through a period of transition and reform. His role is to ensure accountability, efficiency, and the reliable supply of medical resources to healthcare facilities nationwide.

Andrew Mutava Mulwa earned a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree from the University of Nairobi.

Additionally, he holds a Master of Science in Strategic Management from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, providing him with strategic planning skills and a comprehensive understanding of healthcare management.

He has also completed specialized programs such as the Executive International Health Systems Program at Harvard University, focusing on global health, and an executive course in Managing Markets for Health from the University of Edinburgh.

These programs have enhanced his expertise in quality healthcare management, equipping him to tackle complex challenges in the industry.

Throughout his career, Andrew Mulwa has primarily worked in the public sector. He served as a medical officer at Mbooni District Hospital and later became the hospital’s medical superintendent.

He was then appointed as the County Executive for Health in Governor Kivutha Kibwana’s Makueni county government, a position he held from 2011 to 2019.

Prior to his appointment at KEMSA, he served as the Director of Medical Services, Preventive, and Promotive Health at the Ministry of Health.

The Cabinet Secretary also commended Andrew Mulwa, whom she appointed saying, “The choice of Dr Andrew Mulwa as the acting Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) Chief Executive Officer is based on his skills and expertise in putting together working systems and managing them.”

Hot on the heels of this announcement, Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has instructed all KEMSA employees who have been working remotely to return to their workplaces.

The Minister expressed concern about the continued payment of over 200 employees who were allegedly working from home even after the lifting of Covid-19 health restrictions.

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