Blame Circus Continues: Former PS Denies Involvement in Mosquito Net Tender
Former Medical Services Principal Secretary Peter Tum told the Senate Health Committee that he had no role in the entire mosquito net procurement process as the investigation into the botched mosquito net procurement investigation continued.
Tum, who has since been moved to the sports docket, appeared before the Senate Health Committee led by Jackson Mandago, which has been investigating the botched mosquito net tender.
PS Tum was questioned about his role in the procurement of mosquito nets and the change in tender specifications that led to the cancellation of Global Fund’s multibillion-shilling tender.
“An executive order assigned the fight against malaria to the Department of public health and HIV to the Department of medical services,” explained Tum.
The Senate however questioned why the director of medical services was copied on all correspondence despite the tender for malaria nets falling under the public health agenda.
ALSO READ: KEMSA CEO Reveals Government’s Ksh3.7B Mosquito Net Tender Loss
Mandago questioned the PS, “You say you were not involved, but the Director of Medical Services was writing letters and has appeared before this committee.”
Tum responded, “I learned of the failed process when the Global Fund contacted me.”
The Senate then met with Treasury and Global Fund representatives.
The Global Fund had issued a Ksh.3.7 billion request for bids to supply 10.2 million mosquito nets for the malaria mass campaign that was to run from November 2018 to July 2019.
Ledama inquired, “Who advised the then PS to notify KEMSA that they had omitted the PBOs?”
The Global Fund informed the senators that they suspected foul play when letters from the Ministry of Health regarding changes to specifications were sent directly to KEMSA, bypassing the Global Fund and the Treasury.
The Senate resorted to holding the remainder of the session behind closed doors to investigate the scam in greater detail.
Blame Circus Continues: Former PS Denies Involvement in Mosquito Net Tender
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