President William Ruto has fired the entire Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) board over the failed Sh3.7 billion tender for supply of treated mosquito nets for poor households.

Also sent packing alongside the board is the KEMSA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Terry Ramadhani and Public Health Principal Secretary Dr Josephine Mburu.

Former Housing PS Irungu Nyakera has been picked to chair the new KEMSA board and Dr Andrew Mulwa, the Director of Medical Services and Head of Preventive and Promotive health, has been appointed the acting CEO.

“The President has revoked the appointments of the chairperson and members of the board of directors of Kenya Medical Supplies Authority and suspended Terry Ramadhani, the Chief Executive Officer, and other concerned staff serving within the Ministry of Health,” a dispatch from State House read in part.

Also appointed by the Head of State to the newly reconstituted KEMSA board on Monday are Bernard Bett, Hezbon Omollo, Jane Mbatia and Dr Jane Masiga.

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The Global Fund cancelled the Sh3.7 billion tender for mosquito nets floated in January after a Chinese company that met all procurement requirements was dubiously kicked out.

The Global Fund planned to distribute the treated mosquito nets to low-income families in 23 counties across Kenya by November in an effort to tame the spread of the killer malaria.

Global Fund says KEMSA manipulated the tendering process to favour a specific bidder who did not meet set requirements and unfairly dismissed mosquito net maker Tianjin Yorkool.

On that premise, the fund demanded action from Kenya government warning that millions of low-income families risked contracting malaria due to delayed distribution of the nets.

This comes two years after KEMSA was involved in another procurement scandal that saw dubious companies awarded tenders worth Sh7.8 billion for supply of Covid-19 equipment.

Here is the full statement: