- The global Fund has threatened to suspend its grant to Kenya if corruption allegations at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) are not completed without delay and become transparent in the use of the Funds.
- It stands to lose Sh48 billion if these steps are not taken immediately.
The Global Fund has threatened to suspend its grant to Kenya if corruption allegations at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) are not completed without delay and become transparent in the use of the Funds. It stands to lose Sh48 billion if these steps are not taken immediately. The Fund had signed an agreement with the Kenyan government for a grant of Sh48 billion aimed at boosting the fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria in the country. The Global Fund supports eliminating Aids, tuberculosis and malaria epidemics.
The investigation on the allegations of graft at Kemsa by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission began last year. The contentious issue was irregularities in the procurement and supply of Covid-19 equipment amounting to Sh7.8 billion.
The Fund’s Grant Management Division head Mark Edington said that an audit conducted by the Global Fund’s Office of the Inspector-General (OIG )was underway. It will review and decide on the future course of action on the release of grants to Kenya. He sought the support of Cabinet secretaries for Treasury and Ministry of Health, and the board of Kemsa, for OIG to undertake the audit. Fund’s future decisions will be heavily guided by the findings and recommendations arising from the audit, Mr Edington added.
The Global Fund he said wanted a commitment from all stakeholders that Kemsa’s management, transparency and accountability problems are being probed. He urged the implementation of reforms to make urgent interventions, including addressing recent disruptions in the supply of critical HIV drugs.
