Dr Waqo Erjesa named new CEO of KEMSA

Dr Waqo Erjesa has been appointed as the new CEO of Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA), succeeding Andrew Mulwa, who was hired on an acting basis last year after the President sent home the entire board of Kemsa.

The board was dismissed over the bungled Sh 3.7 billion tenders for the supply of treated mosquito nets for low-income households.

Kemsa announced on May 21, seeking to appoint a qualified candidate to take charge of the government's medical supplies agency.

Dr Waqo comes in with 25 years of experience from the Ministry of Health after serving as the head of the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy, and Lungs Diseases since 2019, before serving as the Public Health specialist and Head of the National Malaria Control Program for six years.

The newly appointed CEO graduated from the University of Nairobi in 1996 with a Bachelor of Surgery Medical before joining the University of Melbourne for a master's in public health in 2011.

He also served as the provincial health director in Rift Valley from March 2009 to October 2013.

He is expected to redeem the image of the state medical supply agency that was rocked by the scandal that saw the entire board members sent home.

According to Kemsa's notice seeking the hiring of a qualified CEO, he will be contracted for a four-year term, which can be renewed based on performance reviews.

"Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the CEO will wield authority over the overall leadership and administration of Kemsa's operation that include budget allocation, strategic planning, and team management," stated the advert.

In his LinkedIn profile, Dr Waqo indicated that with his 25 years of experience in the ministry he had the privilege to impact people's lives through medical practice and policy development at both national and international levels.

He also acknowledged making significant contributions to improving the healthcare management system, developing better healthcare services through capacity building, and increasing healthcare funding through advocacy and fundraising.

The newly appointed executive said he also spearheaded the reduction of Malaria prevalence being a lead and well-known expert in the field.