Uproar as Uhuru Appoints Kembi Gitura to Communication Authority Board Amid Multi-Billion-Shilling Scandal at KEMSA

President Kenyatta has appointed former Murang’a Senator Kembi Gitura as the Chairperson of the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) board.

Gitura will serve in the position for a period of three years effective from April 18th, 2021, according to a Gazette Notice dated March 10th.

His appointment to the CA board has led to outrage by many Kenyans on social media, considering that Gitura also chairs the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) board. KEMSA and its senior officials are being investigated over a multi-billion-shilling scandal related to the awarding of irregular contracts.

Investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) revealed that top KEMSA officials flouted procurement procedures in the awarding of big money tenders for the supply of COVID-19 equipment to companies. 

It is alleged that individuals pocketed millions of shillings after supplying COVID-19 equipment to Kemsa at inflated prices. For example, Kemsa is said to have procured more than 1.8 million KN95 masks for Sh700 per piece, which is nearly double the Sh450 market price on the higher side.

It also emerged that tenders were awarded to unqualified companies while money was paid to goods and services not delivered.

Appearing before the Senate Health Committee last year, suspended KEMSA CEO Jonah Manjari said he received instructions from Gitura via email, directing him to irregularly award tenders to specific companies. But Gitura told the same committee that the board does not micromanage KEMSA’s operations. 

“The board did not authorize the budget passing from Sh4.6 billion to Sh7.1 billion on our end that is clear,” Gitura told MPs.