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Photograph: Friso Gentsch/dpa (Photograph by Friso Gentsch/image alliance through Getty Photos)
- The stolen gadgets have been donated by World Fund to battle HIV, TB and malaria in Kenya.
- It has been estimated that round 1.1 million condoms, 908 000 mosquito nets and TB medicine value $91 000 have been stolen.
- The gadgets have been stolen from the state-run Kenya Medical Provides Company.
Kenya stated Thursday it was investigating allegations that 1000’s of donated condoms, mosquito nets and life-saving medicines have been stolen from a government-run warehouse after which offered on the black market.
The gadgets have been donated by the Geneva-based support physique World Fund which has disbursed over $1.4 billion to Kenya since 2003, to battle HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.
A current audit by the fund alleged that round 1.1 million condoms, 908 000 mosquito nets and tuberculosis medicine value $91 000 have been stolen from the state-run Kenya Medical Provides Company (KEMSA) and resold on the black market to personal pharmacies.
“KEMSA is within the strategy of investigating the claims by the World Fund,” the company instructed AFP, including that “essential reforms to deal with the problems recognized have already been put in place.”
The report, launched on 11 March, accuses KEMSA of drastically inflating the worth of medicines to the tune of $5.6 million, together with overstating the value of expired medicine as much as 100 instances the precise value.
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“KEMSA’s Nairobi warehouse was overcrowded with commodities throughout our go to, making it troublesome to hint commodities,” World Fund stated, blaming “poor inner controls.”
A probe is now beneath means, the UN-backed physique stated, telling AFP late Wednesday that:
The Workplace of the Inspector Common doesn’t touch upon any ongoing investigations till they’re finalised and revealed.
The revelations might put funding for Kenya’s healthcare system in danger and are available at a time when hospitals in East Africa’s financial powerhouse – battered by the coronavirus pandemic – are already dealing with a scarcity of essential medicines.
“Administrative motion has already been taken and continues to be taken for these concerned,” KEMSA stated, promising additional motion in opposition to “particular people on a case by case foundation.”
– ‘Covid millionaires’ –
It isn’t the primary time KEMSA is being accused of fraud.
In 2020, it was on the centre of a corruption scandal after authorities officers and businessmen allegedly pilfered $400 million in public cash earmarked for medical tools wanted within the battle in opposition to Covid-19.
A tv expose known as “Covid millionaires” first aired the allegations in August 2020, prompting employees to go on strike at Kenya’s ill-equipped hospitals.
Following avenue protests, President Uhuru Kenyatta disbanded KEMSA’s prime administration and ordered the well being ministry to publish particulars of all purchases made through the pandemic.
Regardless of the nation’s anti-corruption company documenting proof of graft, circumstances have dragged on in court docket and nobody has been convicted up to now.
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