MPs told of Pumwani workers linked to supplies swindle

By Standard Team

Employees at Pumwani Maternity Hospital and City Council of Nairobi have been linked to dubious procurement of medical supplies at the country’s largest maternity facility.

Ikolomani MP Bonny Khalwale tabled documents showing how the deals were executed, claiming the officers received money for medical supplies never delivered.

The officers are said to own briefcase companies that fleece the public of billions of shillings. Khalwale said the culprits get political protection from the Government.

But Local Government Minister Musalia Mudavadi denied knowledge of protection accorded to officers at the facility and said he needed time to look at the documents tabled by Khalwale before responding.

However, in a statement he issued to Parliament on Tuesday, Mudavadi said his ministry was not aware of cartels and welcomed evidence to facilitate investigation.

"I am not aware of the existence of a cartel of employees at the City Council of Nairobi pretending they are supplying surgical and medical supplies, which are paid for, but have not been delivered," said Mudavadi.

Caretaker team

The MP also accused the Ministry of Local Government of ignoring recommendation of the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board, that a caretaker committee be put in place to manage the facility. Pumwani is said to be recording high death statistics, with 342 neo-natal deaths recorded in seven months. During this period, 11,221 births were recorded at the facility.

Mudavadi said a taskforce, appointed by the Town Clerk to investigate claims of mismanagement at the hospital, recommended that proper procurement procedures as enshrined in the Public Procurement and Disposal Act, 2005 be adhered to.