Nakhumicha opens up on Gachagua's alleged role in KEMSA scandal

Former Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has disclosed that she was unaware of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s alleged involvement in a Sh3.7 billion Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) tender during her tenure.

Speaking during the National Assembly’s Committee on Defense, Intelligence, and Foreign Affairs, Nakhumicha said she was surprised at learning about former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s alleged involvement in the controversial KEMSA tender scandal—only after her tenure had ended.

“I got to learn of his involvement when the House was going through the impeachment process. With the information that I was given, his involvement was not there,” said Nakhuumicha.

Nakhumicha, who has been nominated as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN-Habitat, was appearing before the committee chaired by Belgut MP Nelson Koech for her vetting on Monday. 

The MPs pressed her on procurement irregularities that took place while she led the Ministry of Health, especially around the Sh3.7 billion mosquito net tender issued through the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA).

The controversial tender became one of the central allegations in Gachagua’s impeachment in October 2024. 

He was accused of leveraging executive power to channel the deal in favour of his two sons—claims he flatly denied as “ridiculous and baseless.” 

Gachagua maintained that investigations had cleared all implicated officials.

Nakhumicha distanced herself from any knowledge of the alleged influence during her time in office.

“That is how I got to learn that most likely he had been involved,” she said, suggesting the full scope of the matter only became clear in hindsight.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) investigated the procurement process and discovered efforts to manipulate tender specifications to favour Shobika Impex Limited, a company locally represented by Crystal Kenya Ltd.

These findings prompted the Global Fund, a major donor, to cancel the tender due to procurement breaches.

During her time at the helm of Afya House, Nakhumicha said her office had flagged irregularities early in the tendering process.

She recalled summoning suspended KEMSA CEO Terry Ramadhani for explanations. Ramadhani, in turn, claimed the changes in specifications were done on instructions from the Global Fund.

“The problem was detected at the stage of advertisement. I sought an explanation from the CEO, and she attributed it to the donor's instructions,” Nakhumicha explained.

Her tenure wasn’t without personal and professional tests. Nakhumicha reflected on what she described as one of the most grueling episodes of her time in office—a 56-day doctors’ strike that left her grappling with sleepless nights and high stakes.

“I will take them as occupational hazards. And even in this job that I am taking, I am sure other issues might come up. I am happy to deal with them when they do,” she said with a hint of weary resilience.