By Wanja Waweru

On May 25, 2023, interior cabinet secretary (CS) Prof Kithure Kindiki paid a visit to the home of controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie in Shakahola, Kilifi county.

Mackenzie lived in a disorganized mud grass thatched home that resembled a garbage dump, according to pictures provided by the CS.

There were things all over the place, and there were garments all over the floor, showing that the run-down house was a hive of activity.

The CS confirmed that the search operations across the forest proceeded without interruption in a statement and declared that the State would build security roads inside the ranch to improve the efficiency of the search for those still trapped in the forest.

“The search and rescue efforts at Shakahola forest continue uninterrupted. The Government will construct security roads within Chakama Ranch to enable the ground troops comb the expansive forest and combine forces with the team conducting aerial surveillance to ensure any person still holed up in the thickets is rescued.

“Visited part of Shakahola Forest where rogue preacher Mackenzie was residing, constructed dams for irrigation and was growing various food crops despite radicalising his followers to starve to death,” the CS said.

Earlier, the CS oversaw the postmortem of additional 129 bodies that had been exhumed.

Josephine Mburu, the principal secretary who was removed on Monday due to the most recent Kemsa scandal, is presumably new to controversy.

Being fired as the first state appointment in President William Ruto’s administration may have surprised the PS, who has only been in office for five months.

A day after pledging to crack down on alleged corruption at the agency to repair the government’s reputation with foreign funders, Ruto sacked her along with other employees.

“I am doing something about it. You will see results. I want to give you my commitment, I will clean up Kemsa, whatever it takes, whatever it costs,” he said during an interview on Sunday.

Following the Sh7 billion Covid-19 pandemic scam, Mburu is now the focus of an investigation into the Sh3.7 billion mosquito net sale at the agency.

So, who is Mburu?

Mburu was chosen by the President to fill the position out of hundreds of applicants after the Public Service Board’s interviews last November.

Before being appointed, the 56-year-old had worked in the Ministry of Health for 34 years, rising through the ranks to become a lecturer at the publicly owned Kenya Medical Training College.

She has a doctorate in public health from Jomo Kenyatta University and a master’s degree in public health with a focus in epidemiology and a minor in health services management from Kenyatta University College.

Between April and August 2021, she served in various roles including acting chief medical laboratory technologist, head of the microbiology unit, head of the national tuberculosis reference laboratory, and acting head of national public health.

She began working at the Gatundu and Kiambu hospitals’ microbiology sections between 1988 and 1994, according to a sneak peek at her curriculum vitae.

Mburu assured MPs during her parliamentary confirmation that she has never been fired or removed from her position or mentioned in any investigative findings throughout her employment.

“The nominee explained that her training and experience in the health sector since 1988 will enable her to identify the challenges and gaps in the health system to enable her to find solutions to the gaps,” a report from the departmental committee on health reads.

In response to a Sh4 billion mosquito net supply scandal, President William Ruto dismissed Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) CEO Terry Ramadhani, suspended Public Health PS Dr. Josephine Mburu, and dismissed the whole board of the organization.

According to a Monday evening dispatch from State House, he has also selected Irungu Nyakera, a former Farmers Party leader and principal secretary for housing, to serve as chair of the Kemsa board.

The action was taken in response to an exposé by Nation.Africa that showed how Kemsa blew a Sh3.7 billion tender for the delivery of treated mosquito nets.

Additionally, it exposed the potential misappropriation of at least $1.353 million (Sh185 million) from a donor-funded campaign by dishonest Ministry representatives. As a result, the government is now facing refunds and likely sanctions from the Geneva-based Global Fund.

“The alleged maladministration on the part of Kemsa is with regard to procurement of treated mosquito nets for those vulnerable households, which could have led to significant exposure to the disease and increase its severity in the endemic regions,” the dispatch signed by President Ruto’s Chief of staff Felix Koskei said.

Susan Nakhumicha, the health cabinet secretary, has reformed the board of the medical agency and nominated Dr. Andrew Mutava Mulwa as acting CEO of Kemsa.

Her selections for the Kemsa board are Hezbon Omollo, Jane Nyagaturi Mbatia, Dr. Jane Masiga, and Bernard Kipkirui Bett.

Following revelations that Kemsa botched the billion-shilling tender for the supply of treated nets meant to help millions of low-income households prevent malaria, the State corporation lost at least Sh370 million in revenue.

This prompted an investigation into Kemsa and the Ministry of Health.

The successful bidder in the Global Fund-funded contest was supposed to provide 10.2 million treated mosquito nets, but due to errors by Kemsa, the Geneva-based organization is now demanding action against the authorities who botched the execution.