Nakhumicha rejects claims of Gachagua’s involvement in Sh3.7 billion KEMSA tender scandal
Nakhumicha said that while serving as Health Cabinet Secretary, she had not received any indication that Gachagua had influenced the procurement process.
Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Habitat nominee, Susan Nakhumicha, has denied knowledge of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s alleged role in the Sh3.7 billion KEMSA tender, saying she only became aware of the claims during his impeachment.
Speaking during her approval hearing before the National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations on Monday, Nakhumicha said that while serving as Health Cabinet Secretary, she had not received any indication that Gachagua had influenced the procurement process.
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During the session, Belgut MP Nelson Koech questioned Nakhumicha about the controversial mosquito net tender at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), which was cited during Gachagua’s impeachment in October 2024.
At the time, Gachagua was accused of using his executive powers to influence the awarding of the tender to his two sons.
“With the information that I was given, his involvement was not there. I got to learn of his involvement when the House was going through the impeachment process. That is how I got to learn that most likely he had been,” Nakhumicha told the parliamentary committee, adding that during her tenure, no information suggested Gachagua was involved in the tendering process.
She told the committee that she had already been dismissed from Cabinet when the allegations against the former Deputy President were made public during the parliamentary proceedings.
The nominee also addressed her performance at the Ministry of Health, acknowledging that she struggled to manage the 56-day doctors’ strike during her time in office.
“That was one of the hardest challenges. I had sleepless nights,” she said, adding that she is prepared to face similar hurdles if approved for the new diplomatic role.
“I will take them as occupational hazards, and even in this job that I am taking, I am sure other issues might come up. I am happy to deal with them when they do,” she said.
Net worth
She also informed the committee that her net worth has increased to Sh140 million, up from Sh101 million, which she had declared during her vetting for the Cabinet Secretary position two years ago.
Gachagua was implicated in the tender for the procurement scandal during the Kenya Kwanza Alliance government’s first year in office. The allegations emerged amid claims that the former DP had used his executive influence to solicit the tender for the benefit of his two sons.
The former DP, however, denied the accusations, labeling them “ridiculous and baseless.” He asserted that he was never involved in the tender process.
“Where was the Deputy President involved in a tender? This is a tender that never was. For the record, the suspected officers were exonerated,” Gachagua said in a televised interview.
The controversy surrounding the mosquito net tender surfaced after Gachagua was accused of leveraging his office to interfere with the procurement process. An investigation launched in January 2023 into the tender, which was part of an international open process with a bid deadline of February 23, led to the exoneration of the suspended public officials.
Former Public Health Principal Secretary Josephine Muthoni was dismissed, while KEMSA Chief Executive Terry Ramadhani was suspended, along with other Ministry of Health officials. However, Gachagua explained that the investigation concluded with no wrongdoing.
“Terry was cleared, which means there was no scandal. No public funds were lost, and no nets were supplied. This is another fishing expedition to justify the Sh5.2 billion. That’s why they are including the Sh3.7 billion to make the math add up,” he said.
The Global Fund, which plays a crucial role in Kenya’s healthcare system, conducted an audit review that criticised the procurement process.
The audit highlighted failures in adhering to the evaluation criteria outlined in the tender document, revealing inconsistencies in the evaluation of all bidders.
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