Uhuru moves Kemsa chair Gitura amid scandals
Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) board chairman Kembi Gitura has left the agency to head the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) board.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has appointed the former Murang’a Senator to chair CA board for a period of three years with effect from April 18, 2021.
Gitura has been at the helm of the authority for barely two years during which the board was dogged with numerous scandals, the latest one being the loss of billions of shillings in the supply of Covid-19 related materials.
Gitura, however, maintained that no money was lost but went ahead and suspended three top officials including Chief Executive Jonah Manjari, Director of Procurement Charles Juma and Commercial Director Edward Mureithi.
During one of the appearances before a parliamentary committee, Manjari claimed that some board members influenced the award of the Sh7.6 billion Covid-19 related tenders.
Manjari said contrary to claims that the board members were not aware of what was going on at the institution, they were briefed on a day to day basis though no physical meetings were being held due to upsurge of coronavirus cases.
Yesterday, acting Chief Executive Edward Njoroge said he was not aware of a new board being formed.
“I have heard of the Gazette Notice but no more details have been availed to me. I will respond after I receive the brief,” he said.
