Nakhumicha: I'm clean on Sh3.5b mosquito nets supply scandal

A Sh3.5 billion mosquito net scandal at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) resurfaced to haunt former Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha and former Medical Services Principal Secretary Peter Tum during their vetting by Parliament for ambassadorial roles.

Nakhumicha has been nominated as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to UN-Habitat in Nairobi, while Tum is the nominee for Kenya’s ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Yesterday, both faced tough questioning from the National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations, struggling to convince the committee that they were not implicated in the scandal.

Committee chairperson Nelson Koech asked Nakhumicha why the procurement of mosquito nets was moved from the Medical Services department—previously under Tum’s purview—to the Public Health department.

“I was implementing an Executive order in which mosquito nets fell under the Malaria department, which comes under Public Health,” Nakhumicha explained. “I would like to state that the President took disciplinary action against those involved in the scandal.”

Koech also asked Nakhumicha if then-Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua had influenced the tendering process for the mosquito nets.

Nakhumicha denied any such influence, stating that as far as she was concerned, no such intervention took place while she was in charge.

She said she only learned of the matter during Gachagua’s impeachment motion in Parliament last October.

Kinangop MP Kwenya Thuku inquired about former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi’s claims during a recent media interview.

Muturi had alleged that during a Cabinet meeting, Nakhumicha presented him with a memo to sign, a document he had never seen before.

Nakhumicha clarified that the memo had been with the Attorney General’s office for some time and had been reviewed by his officers before being sent back. When Muturi declined to sign, discussions were held, and after reviewing it, the document was returned to Cabinet and approved with minimal changes.

“I would like to tell Parliament that I demonstrated competence. I was never reprimanded by my boss, and I responded adequately to questions in both the National Assembly and Senate. I was honoured with the EGH award in recognition of my work,” said Nakhumicha.

Saboti MP Caleb Amisi asked Nakhumicha whether she had been under duress while running the Ministry. She responded that she had thoroughly enjoyed her tenure as Cabinet Secretary, having started her career as a pharmaceutical technologist 25 years ago and worked her way up the ranks.

The former Cabinet Secretary, who declared a net worth of Sh140 million, expressed her readiness for the ambassadorial role, citing her broad travel experience and fast-learning ability.

Baringo Central MP Joshua Kandie asked Tum about his role in the mosquito nets scandal, suggesting that this could be the reason he was moved to the Ministry of Labour.

Tum responded that, while he was in charge of Medical Services at the time, the matter was overseen by his counterpart in the Public Health docket, Rose Mburu. He denied any involvement.

Tum explained that the procurement of mosquito nets was moved from the Medical Services department to the Public Health department.

When asked who made the decision, he admitted that he had not prepared adequately to answer the question and would likely submit a written response.

Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan questioned Tum about his frequent transfers between three ministries—Health, Labour, and Sports—each in under three years. Hassan wondered if this suggested incompetence.

Tum responded, asserting that it was the President’s prerogative to make changes within the Executive. He added that he viewed his transfers as a reflection of where his expertise was most needed at any given time.

Tum, whose said his net worth is Sh314 million, said he was ready to serve as ambassador to the DRC, confident that his 25 years of public service experience had adequately prepared him for the role.

Former Principal Secretary in the State Department of Economic Planning, James Muhati, nominated as the Consul General in Guangzhou, China, was asked by MPs if he saw the new role as a demotion given his former position.

Muhati expressed gratitude to the President for his past service as Principal Secretary and stated that he was eager to serve as Consul General in China, which boasts a GDP of Sh18 trillion. He considered the appointment a prestigious opportunity.

Gilgil MP Martha Wangari asked Muhati about any involvement in the death of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) ICT Manager Chris Msando in 2017, citing the angry family’s obstruction of his attempt to view Msando’s body.

Wangari also questioned why Muhati eventually resigned as IEBC ICT Director.

Muhati responded that election-related matters were highly emotive in Kenya. He clarified that he left the IEBC to take up the position of CEO at Huduma Centre, not resigned as suggested.

MPs also pointed out that Muhati had been one of the “hardly seen” Principal Secretaries and questioned whether he would be more visible in his new role, if approved.

The nominee told the House committe that he had a net worth of Sh139 million.

Caroline Karugu, nominated as Principal Secretary for the State Department of East African Community, pledged to enhance trade between Kenya and its seven neighbouring countries, stressing that Kenya’s competitive products would strengthen the country’s position in the African market.

Karugu, who said she has a net worth of Sh286 million, clarified that she did not decline then-President Uhuru Kenyatta’s appointment as ambassador to Denmark in 2022. She said she did not take up the role because other duties were assigned to her.

“My previous position as Nyeri Deputy Governor, working at the Nairobi Securities Exchange, and my participation in Raila Odinga’s Africa Union Commission Chairperson campaign have prepared me well for this role,” said Karugu.

Abdi Dubat, nominated as Consul General in Arusha, Tanzania, promised to improve bilateral relations between Kenya and Tanzania.

He said his previous role as East African Community PS had involved high-level engagements with senior officials of neighbouring countries. Dubat disclosed a net worth of Sh185 million.

Former Nominated Senator Judith Pareno appeared before the National Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs Committee for the position of Principal Secretary in the Department of Justice, Human Rights, and Constitutional Affairs.

Pareno stated that her experience as a legislator had adequately prepared her for the role. She declared a net worth of Sh160 million.