Mutahi Kagwe, the Cabinet Secretary For Health
The following email was sent to EACC, copied to parliament (Senate & National Assembly), office of the DIrector of Public Prosecution (ODPP) and National Treasury.
First part:
Exposed: Neglect at KNH as mistreated medical workers die in droves
Good afternoon SIR,
We would like to request for your attention in regards to matters that are currently happening in KNH. Kenyatta National Hospital is the biggest referral in the country and the only hope for millions of kenyans. KNH has been getting immense support from the government in their effort to achieve the president’s big 4 agenda. However, some individuals seem to have taken advantage of this and are looting left, right and centre. There are just a few individuals in the management who are looting like there is no tomorrow. The guys already know that their time is limited and they are on a spree to make sure every coin that is set aside for KNH will get to their pockets by all means. Infact the CEO arrogantly says it’s his time to eat and no one can do anything about it. To make matters worse, He seems to get support and cover from the CS-Health Mutahi Kagwe and that’s the centre of all this. Infact it’s rumoured that after KNH, the CEO will be seconded to KEMSA which has a better budget so that they can do what they do better – LOOTING.
PROCUREMENT
In procurement, no one seems to follow the law. Tenders are advertised just for formality. When they are closed and evaluations done, the head of procurement in liaison with some watu wa mkono, (some junior guys) in procurement and some working in the open office called tender secretariat change the evaluation reports and amend the awards to the companies that have given out money in advance. The current guy incharge of the procurement department is so corrupt and brags to know his Member of Parliament and some other politicians, who have connected him to some other politicians who are paid to cover up and ignore the issues in KNH. He has now been branded by his colleagues “waititu” coz he doesn’t seem to properly understand the procurement law. They made sure that the madam who was the director was sent to NHIF because she couldn’t stomach the nonsense and impunity going on in KNH procurement department.
1. KNH OTHAYA TENDERS – KNH advertised some capital tenders for construction of buildings and a road in Othaya level 6 hospital, which is currently called KNH Othaya. These included a mortuary, kitchen, oxygen plant and laundry units. The issue is neither in the tenders awarded, nor the contractors awarded to. The issue is in how the management and specifically the CEO and the procurement manager have colluded to take advantage and have given variations against the procurement law provisions. This is an area that needs serious audit. Variations are given anytime as long as cuts are negotiated properly.
2. Procurement of Liquid Oxygen – There used to be an oxygen plant in KNH that used to properly produce sufficient volumes for the hospital . The management killed the plant intentionally many years ago and have been for the last three years cutting deals with this product. The worst and evil thing about this is that, they get suppliers who cannot supply the critical item, change the tender requirements and make sure they get the tender. Unfortunately this has caused many deaths in the hospital. It’s sad to note that KNH ICU and CCU have been recording 100% mortality. Meaning that every patient who gets to the ICU/CCU dies. This is because of lack of oxygen. In some cases, for purposes of PR, they pretend that deliveries have been made and the lorry from Noble gases is packed and connected to the oxygen plant when in the real sense no oxygen is being offloaded. When the item is delivered, it’s usually in small quantities that cannot sustain the hospital and therefore the oxygen pressure is usually too low to an extent that the patients who entirely need the oxygen cannot be rescued. This has been a scandal and the ministry knows but have been helping in the cover up. They have now increased consumption of oxygen cylinders to increase their cut. The expenditure has now doubled since the cylinders are more expensive than the liquid oxygen. The user has on several occasions demonstrated to the procurement manager why they are not supposed to buy the cylinders but they can’t listen to him since that’s where money is. They’ve exceeded the variations provided by the procurement law. But “Waititu” can never care about the law. It’s rumoured that his papers are not genuine.
3.Procurement of Gloves
KNH awarded the supply and delivery of examination gloves to Harleys Ltd, a well known company for surgical and pharmaceutical supplies. The company has been supplying gloves and other items to KNH for the longest time. They were called by the head of procurement to negotiate and give kick backs but they declined. Their contract was cancelled just because they didn’t agree on the kick back. The head of procurement and the CEO brought on board another new company that is rumoured to be very liquid and have a side partnership with the bosses. Mr. Miringo, the head of procurement has been able to buy several plots and has even lifted several flats funded by these deals. In less than a year, when he was appointed in acting capacity to the head of department, he was driving a demio. He now rides a prado and has several ongoing constructions in every route in this town. It’s rumoured he wants to contest for MCA in his village and is busy looking for money. His meals: breakfast, lunch and supper are always delivered to the office by JAVA and CJs restaurant. He brags that education is useless. What you need in Kenya is connections. True to his words, he has proved everyone wrong. It’s said that he doesn’t have genuine papers. He has moved all professionals to the stores and Othaya. He harasses suppliers and has been captured ON CCTV entering suppliers premises and collecting cash.
READ: Slavery At KNH: 6 Issues That Need To Be Addressed
4. Service of KNH LIFTS
KNH lifts have been having issues lately. Complaints have been made and no one seems to pay attention. A tender was advertised for service of the lifts but the procurement department used fake documents to commission. The contractor did shoddy work coz he was pocketed by the bosses. They used fake documents to commission. They were advised by the procurement manager. This is a story well told by the engineering guys, coz on querying they were threatened and intimidated.
5. Service of medical Equipment
The procurement guys attached to the maintenance section work for the interests of the manager. They have introduced new companies that are not even pre-qualified nor are they registered for service of medical equipment. They use direct procurement to procure the services from these shoddy companies. So They ignore the suppliers and registered dealers of the equipment and instead give the business to their companies. As usual they don’t follow the procurement laws. This has affected service delivery in the hospital.
6. Insurance Tender
KNH had advertised a tender for procurement of insurance services. They negotiated with a meru guy who works for Jubilee insurance and changed the tender document to make sure that only Jubilee qualifies for the life insurance tender. They rushed the tender which was challenged and now stuck at PPRA. They are now very busy looking for influential people who can influence PPRA to drop the case. It’s said they were promised 10 Million and that’s why they didn’t want to care about the consequences. It’s said that a guy called Morio who has been blacklisted in some parastatals lured them to the deal. Now staff are dying in the hospital but cannot be compensated. For three months now KNH staff have had no insurance cover. This is in the midst of Covid-19. God have mercy.
KNH HR Recruitments
KNH advertised for some vacancies some months ago. Recruitment committees were formed and did their work. In procurement, they had advertised for 9 positions which were strictly internal vacancies. They were not advertised in the dailies nor on the website. Now when the interviews were done, the CEO, head of procurement and HR bosses changed all the recommended applicants and introduced new ones who were later given the jobs. How they were selected cannot be explained. This happened not only in procurement but in all other departments. In procurement, they had advertised for 9 positions. They ended up employing 13 employees. 11 of them came from outside. This was an internal advert remember. HR is an issue.
HR IMPUNITY
In HR, promotions are done based on your alignment with the deep state of KNH. The CEO himself is a CARTEL. Ladies are the most affected. He must like you to give promotion. Professionals are being intimidated and threatened with demotions. Basically the guy doesn’t want anyone who challenges whatever he does. He entertains quacks who just pass and do whatever he demands blindly.
WE BEG FOR YOUR URGENT ACTION.
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