President Kenyatta Sacks Kenya’s Scandal-hit Medical Agency Board

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has dismissed the entire board of directors of the country’s medical supplies agency that has been hit by a series of scandals.

The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority’s (Kemsa) latest scandal involved supplying 24,000 doses of HIV drugs that had been phased out.

Kenya stopped using Nevirapine in 2019 after patients suffered serious side effects.

The agency is also part of the reason why more than 200,000 doses of anti-retroviral drugs are stuck in a warehouse in the coastal city of Mombasa, four months after being donated by the US.

Last year, Kemsa was also implicated in the alleged misuse of millions of dollars meant for buying Covid-19 supplies.

It is hoped this overhaul will help the agency regain public trust. The new board will be in office for three years.