Earlier today, the Senate Health Committee, Chaired by Senator Jackson Mandago, met with the Global Fund Local Agent, PriceWaterHouseCoopers (PWC) led by their Partner Mr. Francis Muriu and with Mr. Irungu Nyakera the Chairman of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) and his Team over the ongoing allegations of irregularities in the procurement of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs).

Mr. Muriu apprised the Committee on 1. the various approval processes, procedures, guidelines and requirements of Global Fund in relation to the procurement of LLINs; 2. Global Fund's submission guidelines to KEMSA in relation to the procurement of the LLINs, in line with - a) Existing public procurement laws and regulations; and b) Guidelines by the Ministry of Health (MoH). The Chairman further provided clarity on the circumstances that 1. led to the cancellation of the tender at KEMSA, including details of meetings held during the pre-tendering and pre-award stages; 2. caused concerns by Global Fund in relation to the management and operations of the Division of Malaria Control Program at the Ministry of Health and KEMSA, and outlined possible solutions and a way forward for the future. Finally, Members were updated on the current status of the LLINs mass net campaign project where it was established that the PS, Ministry of Health inaugurated a National Steering Committee with sub committees to spearhead the preparations for the 2023/24 mass LLINs campaign. 

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Mr. Nyakera advised Members on 1) The initiation procurement from the National Treasury, 2) The preparation of Tender documentation, 3) The Tender evaluation process, 4) The Global Fund pre-award review of Procurement Process 5) The distinct roles and responsibilities between the Ministry of Health and KEMSA with regards to procurement and 6) The loss of funds incurred to KEMSA as the procuring agent of the Global Fund following the cancellation of the the tender which was computed to having been over USD 455,000. 

Other Members present were Vice Chair Sen. Mariam Sheikh, Sen Esther Okenyuri, Sen. Hamida Kibwana, Sen. Raphael Chimera, Sen, Joe Nyutu and Sen. Abdul Haji.