Ruto’s Decision To Sack PS, KEMSA Board Welcome

By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga

Worth Noting:

• The President demonstrated he meant his words a few days ago when he sacked the Health PS and entire board of Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) and appointed the new people to replace them.
• President Ruto acted soon after receiving disturbing reports touching on Sh3.7 billion botched tender for supply of treated mosquito nets to 23 counties prone to the malaria.
• The Global Fund, a Geneva-based organization, had agreed to boost Kenya’s war against malaria.
• The nets would have been supplied to millions of low-income households for free.
• The Global Fund immediately withheld the money after its top officials received the information that plans were underway to steal a huge chunk of money.

Upon taking the instruments of power President William Ruto immediately started to form his government.

He first nominated members of the cabinet (CSs) and presented thier names to parliament for vetting. He had made the right choices as all of them were given a clean bill of health.

He later nominated the Principals Secretaries (PSs) who were vetted and approved by respective parliamentary committees.

After formally appointing them, the law further required the president to witness thier swearing in.

This is because this is the core team that will help him to ensure the agenda of his administration is realized.

During these events, the President was very candid and forthright. The mandate bestowed on each one of you is to serve the people of Kenya.

You have do it professionally, diligently and in good faith.

Put your ears on the ground and listen to what people are saying. Remember these are your employers and so you have only one option. This is to rollout the projects and programmes that resonate with their wishes and aspirations.

The other issue is to manage and protect their resources. If you do this, you will not fall into trouble with me.

I will not entertain any excuses. If you fail to deliver, I will just sack you.

The President demonstrated he meant his words a few days ago when he sacked the Health PS and entire board of Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) and appointed the new people to replace them.

President Ruto acted soon after receiving disturbing reports touching on Sh3.7 billion botched tender for supply of treated mosquito nets to 23 counties prone to the malaria.

The Global Fund, a Geneva-based organization, had agreed to boost Kenya’s war against malaria.

The nets would have been supplied to millions of low-income households for free.

The Global Fund immediately withheld the money after its top officials received the information that plans were underway to steal a huge chunk of money.

Many believed that this plot had been hatched by the PS, KEMSA board and the Agency’s CEO. This came to pass.

The president suspended the latter and this was well understood. The CEO has no power to make any decision. The work of the holder is confined to implementing the decisions made by the former’s.

In the deal, the tender could have been awarded to a supplier who agrees to meet thier terms.

To many, one of their biggest worries was on how conceal the stealing.  If caught,   they knew this will land them in a big trouble.

At the back of their mind, they knew this.  One of the political cards used by Dr William Ruto’s competitors during the campaigns was to paint him as corrupt personality. If he wins elections, ‘corruption will be the way of life’.

Even after Ruto defeated them at the ballot, the Azimio leader Raila Odinga and his brigade continued to make these unproven and unsubstantiated claims against President Ruto.

With this, I’m sure KEMSA officials are now crossing their fingers. They do not know their fate. This is because they have been caught pants down.

So, this is their biggest worry. What if the President and his deputy use our cases to prove that they were truly committed to the war against corruption? Is it this would land us in jail?

I advise them to hold their horses. Kenya is not a banana republic. It is a country governed by the rule of law and the constitution.

As such, they should let the law to take its course. You will only blame yourselves if it turns out you have cases to answer.

Legally speaking, the president and his deputy have no role to play when it comes to ensuring justice is meted on corrupt riddled personalities, economic saboteurs and other criminals.

These matters are handled by independent institutions falling under the armpit of criminal justice system. So, I would not expect them to drag the names of the two leaders.

Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and political analyst based in Nairobi