President Ruto’s Anti-Corruption Crusade Applauded by Azimio Western Leaders
Western region Azimio leaders have urged President William Ruto to intensify the purge of suspected corrupt government officials and ensure those implicated in corruption are prosecuted.
The investigations into the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa) were a step in the right direction, according to Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, his deputy, Ayub Savula, and Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathew Owili.
The leaders who spoke in Kakamega on Friday stated that President Ruto’s decision to disband the Kemsa board and suspend its CEO Terry Ramadhani and Principal Secretary for Public Health Josphine Mburu sent a strong signal about how he intends to combat corruption in his administration.
The decision was made after the details of the Sh3.7 billion tender for the supply of treated mosquito nets to help millions of low-income households prevent malaria were made public.
Additionally, the scandal has cost the State corporation a minimum of Sh370 million in revenue.
The winning bidder for the Global Fund-funded tender was to provide 10.2 million treated mosquito nets, but errors by Kemsa have prompted the Geneva-based organization to demand action against officials who botched its implementation.
Governor Barasa, Mr. Savula, and Mr. Owili urged Dr. Ruto to extend the crackdown to additional government agencies.
Mr. Barasa stated that the President’s action was commendable and deserving of the support of all political party leaders.
The county administrator requested that the law be amended to permit the procurement of drugs by counties, which will then be delivered to Kemsa for storage and distribution to health facilities.
Unscrupulous staff members
“This is the only solution to the pervasive corruption at Kemsa. Mr. Barasa asserted that corrupt Kemsa employees are robbing countries of their supply of pharmaceuticals.
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According to him, corruption thrives in the country because courts frequently release suspects for lack of sufficient evidence.
“President Ruto needs support to combat corruption. Let the courts assist the President, as they have fallen behind in the war on corruption. Mr. Savula stated that it is disheartening when individuals implicated in scandals walk from the dock a few days after their arraignment.
Kemsa is still reeling from the botched procurement of Covid-19 drugs and personal protective equipment, which rocked the agency during the height of the pandemic and cost the nation over Sh2.3 billion.
The leaders stated that President Ruto’s suspension of 27 officials linked to the disappearance of 20,000 (50kg) bags of suspected contaminated sugar imported in 2018 but flagged by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) as unfit for human consumption demonstrated his determination to combat corruption firmly.
Mr. Owili stated, “We support the purge in Kemsa, and we support Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha’s stance. We urge the President to continue to fight corruption with vigor.”
The report from the Ministry of Health indicates that 70 percent of the population is at constant risk. Of contracting malaria, particularly children under five and pregnant women.
The report also indicates that malaria kills 10,700 Kenyans annually. And that the risk of malaria infection is higher in Western Kenya.
President Ruto’s Anti-Corruption Crusade Applauded by Azimio Western Leaders
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