Mosquito nets scandal, doctors’ strike bedevil Nakhumicha in vetting for UN envoy job

While appearing before the National Assembly committee for Defense, Intelligence and Foreign Affairs, Nakhumicha cleared the air on the mosquito net scandal that bedeviled her leadership.

The Ksh.3.7 billion procurement process for the nets was nullified by Global Fund in 2023 as part of the fight against a Malaria mass campaign.

Two companies made the cut out of 17 and submitted their tenders to Global Fund but were nullified on grounds that they failed to meet the mandatory documentation requirement.

This forced the Global Fund to cancel the tender and supplied the nets directly through its own procurement wing Wambo.org.

Nakhumicha said that the regrettable scandal saw Kenya losing a critical revenue-generating avenue, noting that a few individuals had tampered with the process for self-gain.

"The avenue many people use is to tamper with the description so that it can follow what they want to have procured," she noted. 

"Having lost the opportunity of procuring the nets, we lost an opportunity of potential income. But that points to the bigger challenges that do exist in the public procurement system."

Now with a net worth of Ksh.140 million, she was also forced to elucidate on the malady surrounding the controversial Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) under the Social Health Authority (SHA).

Nakhumicha argued that the rollout of the health insurance programme faced many challenges due to unprofessionalism from a number of health facilities.

"Some facilities had their contracts terminated and were grilled by the (National Assembly) committee on health," she said, adding that some were dismissed from offering medical services.

She however maintained that SHA is the cure to Kenya's frail health system, noting that all Kenyans will be able to access effective medical services.

"It's the magic bullet that we need to ensure Kenyans get medical services close to them. It seeks to ensure that all Kenyans have some sort of insurance and the digitization of processes is one way of eradicating errors," she noted.

The health insurance programme, which was flagged in 2024 while she was in office, has been rocked with endless glitches as Kenyans complain of its inefficiency.

Clinical officers have been protesting being barred from offering services through SHA and a breach of last year’s return-to-work agreement which comprised a collective bargaining agreement, promotions, comprehensive medical cover and the confirmation of universal health coverage (UHC) clinical officers and those in short-term contractual employment into permanent and pensionable terms.

The clinical officers have been demanding immediate and unconditional recognition and empanelment of health providers and practitioners licensed by the Clinical Officers Council.

Likewise, the Rural & Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) partially suspended SHA services in February, citing continued ignorance to iron out existing challenges.

Auditor General Nancy Gathungu also released a damning report, indicating that the government does not own or control the ambitious Ksh.104.8 billion Social Health Authority (SHA).

Gathungu's report raised serious concerns about the government's decision to proceed with the project without first establishing ownership of the system's infrastructure and intellectual property.

The project's financing model anticipates Ksh.111 billion in revenue over ten years, derived from SHA member contributions, health facility claims, and track and trace solution charges. 

The former Health CS lost her position when President Ruto dissolved his Cabinet on July 11, 2024, following protracted Gen Z-led anti-government protests.