The former Health Cabinet Secretary, Susan Nakhumicha, breaks her silence on the alleged mosquito net scandal. The former CS links the former deputy president, Rigathi Gachagua, to the Ksh. 3.7 billion Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) tender scandal.
Nakhumicha, who currently serves as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN-Habitat, had more details to give. The former health CS, on Monday, 7 April, appeared before the Foreign Relations Committee, Intelligence, and National Assembly’s Defense. She answered pressing questions concerning her tenure as the Health CS.
Nakhumicha on the spot
Belgut MP Nelson Koech, during the session, plainly asked the former CS about her role in the KEMSA mosquito net tender scandal. On reaction, Nakhumicha denied the claims that she knew about the Ksh. 3.7 billion worth of scandals.
Further, Nakhumicha insisted that she learned about the subject matter just like other Kenyans. She claimed, “With the information that I was given, his involvement was not there. I learned of his involvement when the House was going through the impeachment process. That is how I got to learn that likely he had been.”
The former deputy president, Gachagua, exited his tenure in office in October 2024. Since then, he has been accused of influencing the deal to ensure the tender floats to two companies. The two companies are linked to his sons.
Is Rigathi Gachagua Guilty?
On the contrary, Nakhumicha seemed to acquit Rigathi of any wrongdoing. Further, she claimed that there exists no information that incriminates Gachagua in the tendering process. Additionally, she claims that by the time charges were brought against Rigathi in parliament, her tenure in office had ended.
In the meantime, Nakhumicha admitted to some shortcomings as the Health CS. This includes her inability to sufficiently address the 56-day doctors’ strike.
In response to the allegations, Gachagua had denied the allegations in a televised interview. Gachagua said, “Where was the Deputy President involved in the tender? This is a tender that never was. For the record, the suspected officers were exonerated.”
