Economy
Kemsa has an overdose of employees, says Auditor General
Monday, May 9, 2022
Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) Embakasi Warehouse, Nairobi, 1 December 2020. PHOTO | LUCY WANJIRU | NMG
Summary
- Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) employs more than double its required staff size, reflecting waste at the State Agency.
- Ms Gathungu says in her report that no approval was given to hire the extra 571 employees at the agency.
- The Auditor General says that Kemsa’s staff costs in the financial year ending June 2020 were 1 billion Shredder as a result of the inflated workforce.
Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) employs more than double its required staff size, reflecting waste at the State Agency.
Kemsa had 912 employees against an approved number of 341 in the year ending June 2020, according to a report submitted to lawmakers by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu.
Ms Gathungu says in her report that no approval was given to hire the extra 571 workers at the agency who were at the center of corrupt business in connection with the purchase of Covid-19 emergency equipment.
She further noted that five expatriate officers from the Ministry of Health have served the organization for a period of more than six years in violation of the law.
The Public Policy Commission’s HR policy states that the posting of civil servants to other organizations applies to pensionable civil servants for a period of three years, which may be extended once.
“No explanation was given for this irregularity,” the Auditor General said.
The Auditor General says that Kemsa’s staff costs in the financial year ending June 2020 were 1 billion Shredder as a result of the inflated workforce.
“Under these circumstances, the accuracy and validity of the staff cost balance of 1,083,420,635 Sh for the year ended June 30, 2020 could not be confirmed,” she said.
Kemsa is undergoing restructuring in an attempt to reform the agency and improve the accountability of its staff amid a series of scandals that have plagued the agency.
President Uhuru Kenyatta reviewed the Kemsa board on April 29 last year in the wake of multi-billion shilling scandals plaguing the drug agency.
Mary Chao Mwadime took over from former Chairman of the Board Kembi Gitura, who was transferred to the Communications Authority (CA) on March 17, 2021 in a similar capacity.
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