Group wants companies in Kemsa scam blacklisted
Transparency International is among 12 civil society groups that have petitioned the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) to ban individuals and firms implicated in procurement irregularities from government tenders.
The civil society, in a joint press statement, singled out the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) scandal where the Office of the Auditor General reported that more than Sh8 billion was misappropriated at the agency over procurement irregularities.
“Firms and individuals who have been found to have benefited from the Kemsa Covid-19 fund should be banned from transacting any business with the government as per the Procurement and Asset Disposal Act,” said Stephen Osiedo from National Taxpayers Association.
Osiedo also indicted the government for failing to adhere to procurement laws during the emergency procurement.
“We have experienced at least three emergencies in the country including locust invasion, flooding and Covid-19, but the procurement has been secretive making it difficult for transparency and accountability,” said Osiedo.
On her part, Sheila Masinde, acting Executive Director Transparency International urged the Asset Recovery Agency (ARA) to swing into action and recover the money acquired fraudulently in the Kemsa scandal.
“The anti-graft body and ARA should not spare any public official or firm that benefited from the ill gotten Covid-19 fund. Transparency is the much-needed vaccine to save more lives,” she said.
Masinde said the President and PPRA should follow through on the implementation of Executive Order No. 2 of 2018 by all public procuring entities.
