President Uhuru Kenyatta has appointed the embattled Kembi Gitura to be the new chairman of the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) for a period of three years.

Gitura, who was the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) chairman for the past two years, has been appointed to CA board for three years effective from April 18, 2021.

The appointment of the former Senator comes amid a probe into a multi-billion scandal at KEMSA that saw well connected companies get tenders for PPEs through dubious means.

The probe by Parliament and other state agencies have placed Gitura right at the center of the irregular tendering scandal, even as he has insisted that he is innocence.

The state medical supplies agency is accused of irregularly procuring Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) at exaggerated costs when Covid-19 pandemic struck in Kenya last year.

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The actions by KEMSA are said to have caused the loss of billions of taxpayer shillings as the tenders were awarded to entities linked to politicians and influential businessmen in Kenya.

A local daily newspaper has reported that the acting KEMSA CEO Edward Njoroge has indicated that he was left in the dark as far as the formation of a new board is concerned.

“I have heard of the Gazette Notice but no more details have been availed to me. I will respond after I receive the brief,” Njoroge told the paper.

He told the daily that any further changes will be communicated to the public in due course.