KEMSA under scrutiny again over irregular medical supplies deal with Angelica Medical

The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) is once again under fire following new concerns over how it handled a major procurement deal with Angelica Medical Supplies Limited, a local supplier.

MPs are now questioning how KEMSA received medical items before the necessary contracts were signed, pointing to major flaws in its procurement procedures.

This came to light during a session held by the Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture (PIC-SSAA), which is reviewing the Auditor-General’s reports on KEMSA’s audited financial accounts from 2019/2020 to 2023/2024.

The committee, led by MP Emmanuel Wangwe, grilled KEMSA officials on irregularities found in the supporting documents for the supply of personal protective equipment and other items.

Key concerns were raised over the timing of critical documents.

MPs noted that goods from Angelica Medical Supplies were delivered in April 2020, yet acceptance letters bore May dates, while the actual contract was signed two months later, in June.

“There’s a clear mismatch in the sequence of events. You cannot have goods delivered in April 2020, acceptance letters dated May, and then a contract signed two months later in June. It raises serious accountability questions,” said the committee chair.

The MPs described the transaction as legally questionable. They were particularly troubled by the fact that the delivery happened before any contract existed, which undermined the rules that govern public procurement.

According to the documents, some goods arrived before KEMSA had the authority to accept or verify them.

The committee also found that the acceptance letters were issued after delivery but before contract signing, creating more confusion about the process followed.

KEMSA, which has faced procurement scandals in the past, struggled to explain the irregularities during the session.

Adding to the doubts, some of the goods delivered were not verified on time. This lapse, MPs noted, was another sign of weak oversight and poor compliance with procurement regulations.

“The government cannot give you any contract without documentation. You present that document during tendering. If you later seek payment without a proper contract in place, who will be accountable?” asked Othaya MP Michael Wainaina.

MPs further questioned why items marked as emergency supplies were not delivered on time. While KEMSA claimed these goods were urgently needed due to Covid-19, the committee heard that some were delivered two to three weeks late.

The authority, however, blamed the delays on Covid-19 restrictions, including lockdowns and reduced movement of goods.

Other Topics To Read

• National
• KEMSA
• kenya medical supplies authority
• medical supplies
• Angelica Medical Supplies Limited
• KEMSA under scrutiny again over irregular medical supplies deal with Angelica Medical
• Headlines

The committee was not satisfied with this explanation and pressed for accountability, especially considering KEMSA’s past controversies during the pandemic.

To get to the bottom of the issue, the committee has demanded that KEMSA submit all original and complete documents related to the procurement in question.