The ongoing probe into the bungled mosquito net tender was yet again treated to a circus of blame game as former Medical Services Principal Secretary Peter Tum told the Senate Health Committee that he had no role in the entire tender process.
Tum who has since been moved to the sports docket appeared before the Jackson Mandago–led Senate Health Committee that has been probing the bungled mosquito net tender.
PS Tum was taken to task over what was his role in the procurement of the mosquito nets and the change in tender specifications that occasioned the cancellation of the multi–billion shillings tender by Global Fund.
“An executive order placed the fight against malaria under public health department and placed hiv under medical services…,” said Tum.
The Senate however questioned why despite the malaria nets tender being under the public health docket, the director of medical services was being copied all correspondents
Mandago asked the PS: “You say you were not involved but the Director of Medical Services was writing letters he has appeared before this committee.”
In response, Tum submitted: “I came to learn of the failed process when global fund wrote to me.”
The Senate then held a meeting with officials from Treasury and Global Fund.
The Global Fund had floated Ksh.3.7 billion for the tender to supply 10.2 million mosquito nets for the malaria mass campaign that was to kick off this November to July next year.
“Who advised the then PS to write to KEMSA that they had omitted the PBOs,” asked Ledama.
Global Fund told the senators that they suspected mischief when letters from the Ministry of Health on change of specifications were written directly to KEMSA and ignoring Global Fund or Treasury.
The Senate resorted to holding the rest of the session in camera to probe to gather finer details into the scam.
