Kemsa floats two-year plan for tenders, woos local firms
Drugs supply agency the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) is inviting local manufacturers and suppliers, including youth and persons with disabilities-owned firms to apply for tenders.
The move, which comes as Kemsa’s former bosses fight accusations of corruption that were brought to the fore by procurement malpractices of Covid-19 related supplies, the agency has deployed an automated supplier performance tool to help guarantee transparency to the public.
“We are activating a new supplier performance measurement tool to raise the quality standards to world-class benchmarks and ensure value for money to the Kenyan taxpayer,” acting CEO Edward Njoroge said during a pre-bid conference with potential suppliers on Monday.
We have re-engineered many of our financial management and procurement processes and adopted information technology systems, noted the Mr Njoroge.
“Various covert and overt oversight frameworks have been put in place to guard against the loss of taxpayers and donor funds through procurement processes manipulation,” he added.
Kemsa has floated two competitive tenders for pharmaceutical products that will be shipped to over 8,000 facilities in Kenya’s public health care system.
Bid submission and evaluation will be undertaken on the Treasury’s Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) portal: supplier.treasury.go.ke effectively eliminating the use of paper-based applications.
Mr Njoroge called on local manufacturers and disadvantaged groups under the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) program to take advantage of the opportunity and do business with the agency.
Read also: Why it will cost you an arm and a leg to earn degree from UoN
The over 260 suppliers at the pre-bid conference are set to submit their tender documents to deliver tablets and capsules, ARVs; topical, disinfectants, antiseptics and oral liquids; surgical and orthopaedic dressing, theatre medicines and injectables among other items.
The agency, he added, has put in place measures to contribute to the realization of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Kenya.
“Kemsa’s role in the success of UHC is the provision of quality, accessible and affordable health products and technologies sourced from local and international suppliers such as those converged at this pre-bid conference,” he said.
In April, Mary Chao Mwadime was appointed as the chairperson of the KEMSA board just days after US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called for reforms in the agency.
