A South African woman of Indian descent has come under the scrutiny of Kenya’s Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over plans to supply the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) with equipment and machinery valued at over Kes. 2.5 billion.
The woman, whose name is withheld, reportedly met with an influential KEMSA board member in South Africa several months ago to advance a lucrative but allegedly fraudulent tender.
According to sources, the board member—who wields significant influence behind the scenes—assured her the deal was virtually secured after receiving a substantial bribe.
An anonymous source within the EACC, familiar with the investigation, revealed to our reporter that preliminary inquiries have uncovered a series of shady deals involving the bidding company linked to the suspect.
The elaborate scheme to siphon off huge sums of Kenyan taxpayers’ money was hatched over six months ago in South Africa.
The scandal has attracted the attention not only of the EACC but also of other national agencies including the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), who have joined forces to verify whether all procurement procedures and due diligence were properly followed.
Key KEMSA departments, notably Communications, Finance, and Legal, are also under the investigators’ microscope.
It is alleged that the prime suspect has infiltrated these offices to fast-track the deal.
According to the source close to the investigations, the EACC is poised to arrest the woman and her team upon their arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, as indicated by her recent travel plans.
This unfolding case adds to KEMSA’s troubled history of procurement scandals, underscoring the urgent need for transparency and accountability in managing public funds aimed at healthcare services.
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