Global Firm Helps Kenya After Cancelling Ksh3.7 Billion Deal
Saturday, Global Fund continued its efforts to assist Kenya in adhering to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation to conduct mass Long-Lasting Insecticide-Treated Net (LLIN) distribution campaigns every three years.
Despite canceling a Ksh3.7 billion LLINs tender in April due to irregular procurement, the organization has maintained its partnership with Kenya.
While canceling the contract, Global Fund accused Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) of biased procurement and favoring one of the bidders.
Global Fund, in partnership with various Ministry of Health agencies, trained National Trainers of Trainers (ToTs) for the Mass LLINs Distribution Campaign 2023/24, which is scheduled to begin in November 2023.
“Our Multi-Agency National Trainers will equip counties and sub-counties with the skills for effective microplanning, household registration, and net distribution,” a statement from the Ministry of Health read in part.
Global Fund will assist Kenya in its campaign to use digital technology to mitigate risks and increase efficiency.
“This training paves the way for a series of activities leading to the distribution of approximately 18 million nets across 28 high-risk counties,” the Ministry of Health stated.
The LLIN Scandal
In July of this year, while appearing before the Senate’s Health Committee, Global Fund Project Manager Stephen Muiruri raised concerns about potential fraudulent activities involving local suppliers in the KEMSA-initiated tender process that was to be 97 percent funded by Global Fund.
The company reported that the sole qualified company for the tender from China was eliminated from consideration.
Muiruri also disclosed that the government lost Ksh100 million due to the cancellation of the tender.
The Global Fund took over the procurement process and initiated a new round via its internal tendering portal, excluding the participation of the national government.
It is anticipated that the distribution of 12 million LLINs will begin in November, encompassing 23 counties.
Global Firm Helps Kenya After Cancelling Ksh3.7 Billion Deal
