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{
    "id": 1139274,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1139274/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 176,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cherargei",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13217,
        "legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
        "slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
    },
    "content": "shelf life. When you go to Kapsabet County Referral Hospital, Mosoriot Sub-County, Kaptumo Sub-County Hospital and Malava Sub-County Hospital, there are no drugs. All these facilities, including dispensaries, do not have regular and steady supply of drugs and the county governments have been laying blame on a section of the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) Act. Therefore, by deleting this, we are giving opportunities to counties to procure drugs at their convenience. I know the wisdom then was trying to ensure that we close any loopholes to have accountability. However, they forgot that the health function has been devolved and non-involvement of the Senate brought all these unconstitutionalities. As you are aware, health is fully devolved. So, the ignorance of either KEMSA or the Ministry of Health (MoH) or the National Assembly had caused them--- We are aware of what is happening at KEMSA. We have seen a number of donors who are working with KEMSA have demanded for serious reforms within KEMSA. We have seen even the CEO and many other Government officials have been prosecuted because of the infamous KEMSA billionaires scandal. Unfortunately, the real culprits of the COVID-19 billionaires scandal that stole from KEMSA have never been brought to book. Even international partners who have worked with KEMSA have demanded a serious overhaul of the operations in KEMSA. I think what Sen. Shiyonga started is part of the reforms that we need to see in KEMSA. We do not want KEMSA to operate like a society that is shrouded in secrecy. We know that when an institution surrounds itself in secrecy, corruption thrives well in it. We would have expected that KEMSA in its form should be one of the suppliers that county governments can buy either from or any other entities that have been approved within the procedures that have been provided for, so that they become competitive. If you open up, they will be very competitive. They will ensure that they become competitive and give their services adequately. They will also ensure that they deliver drugs on a timely basis. There is also an aspect of regulatory bodies which will ensure that these reforms are implemented. You know we also need donations, but like even MEDs organizations that are run by the Catholic Church, there are other organizations that have already been recognized under the law that other entities can buy drugs; pharmaceuticals and non- pharmaceuticals from those areas. In an upshot, this is a straightforward amendment. We hope that we can conclude debate today and when we vote in the afternoon, this should be part of the Bills that will go to division. We want to challenge the county governments that the issue of drugs is very important. We want every dispensary you go to be it Tambioya Dispensary, somewhere in Saniako when you walk in, you are able to get drugs. As I conclude, in Nandi County, for example, there are no drugs at the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital. Normally, they will give you a pay bill number you send money to it, but that pay bill number is private. You are just withdrawing from an agent that is private. It is not even contravening the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act on how payments should be made by agents. So, you are given a pay bill number of an agent who is private around Kapsabet Town to withdraw from yet you have given your money."
}