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KEMSA put to task to explain award of tenders to two related companies

Thursday, October 31st, 2019 15:36 | By
KEMSA Chief Executive Officer Jonah Manjari

Shocking details have emerged that Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) awarded a sister company through restricted tendering to supply the consumable and disposable start-up kits which they later sold to the counties under the scandalous Managed Equipment Services (MES).

Appearing before a senate ad-hoc committee investigation the MES equipment, KEMSA Chief Executive Officer Jonah Manjari disclosed that they contracted Angelica Medical Supplies Limited a partner – Bellco S.R.L (Medtronic) and Carestream Healthcare Inc.

Bellco and Carestream which are among the five international firms supplied renal and radiology equipment to 98 level five hospitals and four referral national hospitals under the programme.

Although the equipment was disbursed to the 47 counties in 2015, Kemsa which is a specialized medical logistics provider for the Ministry of Health-supported health facilities and programmes started supplying the consumables and reagents to be used by the medical machines six months ago.

According to Manjari, the medical supplier which controls about 70 percent of the market share, supplied the consumables and reagents to the counties that make request through the Logistic Information Management System (LIMS).

He explained to the Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo led committee that Angelica Medical Supplies limited was delivering the reagents to counties at Sh1700 but after negotiation, the company supplied the commodities at Sh1400 to Kemsa.

“We have not been directly linked to MES nor responsible for the MES not working. Kemsa only supplies the consumables as requested in the LIMS and we give counties on credit,” the CEO said in defense.

Asked why only Angelica Medical Supplies were given the tender when in fact they were partners with Bellco Company, Manjari said that there first point of reference was Bellco-the medical device supplier who told them that Angelica was its partner in Kenya.

In an email sent to Kemsa, Bellco assured medical supplies agency  that Angelica has the ability to supply the reagents and consumables.

“Thank you for the great opportunity to bid on the Renal consumables tender. Please note that we will bid through our partner, Angelical Medical. We have worked with them for a number of years and we are confident in their ability to supply you with the highest quality service,” reads part of the email seen by People Daily,

However, Senators Moses Wetangula (Bungoma) and Mwangi Githiomi (Nyandarua) questioned the deal between Bellco and Angelica as it was not in the best interest of the tax-payers.

“A perception was created that counties were in serious pandemic situations that needed a solution. A nightmare was created for people to do business at the behest of Kenyan people,” said senator Wetangula.

“Counties were coerced to buy reagents from Kemsa. There is no value for money. It is clear that money is being lost through this deal,” said Githiomi differed.

Last week, it was revealed that the Pharmacy and Poisons Board was kept in the dark in the supply of the equipment and their consumables. 

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