MONDAY, 30^th NOVEMBER – The Senate Standing Committee on Health has this morning ordered the Managing Director of Briema Grains Store Limited to present by close of business Tuesday 1^st December all documentation relating to communication made between itself and KEMSA regarding the procurement of supplies in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

The Committee through Ag Chair, Sen (Dr) Abdullahi Ali has further directed the MD, Mr Abdighafar Ali Hassan – who was evidently ill-prepared for today’s meeting – to appear before it in person on Thursday 3^rd December to shed more light on his company’s engagement with KEMSA.

“Take note that failure to comply to these directives, the Committee may impose upon you a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand shillings or may order for your arrest pursuant to sections 19(1) and 19(3), respectively, of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, 2017,” noted Sen Ali.

Mr Abdighafar’s appearance before the Committee today was as a result of Summons issued against him having previously failed to honour invitations to present the aforementioned documentation.

The Senate, through the Health Committee, has been conducting an inquiry into the mismanagement of COVID-19 funds at KEMSA. In a damning Special Audit Report on the Utilization of COVID-19 Funds by KEMSA, presented to the Committee by the Auditor General, Nancy Gathungu in September, it emerged that the Agency’s budgetary management process for capital budgets did not comply with the Public Finance Management Act.

The AG also reported that the Audit established red flags that pointed to possible fraud where Companies that had been in existence for less than one year were awarded contracts.

Other Senators present at the meeting include: Sen Millicent Omanga, Sen Fred Outa, Sen Beatrice Kwamboka, Sen Beth Mugo and Sen Mary Seneta.