The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) has appointed Ramadhani Kiunge as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with immediate effect.
The news was made public by KEMSA chairperson Mary Chao Mwadime.
In a statement to newsrooms, the KEMSA board said Kiunge emerged the best of other applicants in the rigorous recruitment process that began in March.
Kiunge holds a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Liverpool, Adaptive Leadership Certification from the Harvard Kennedy School and a Bachelor of Education from Kenyatta University.
As such, she has served in various capacities as a Human Resource practitioner for over 19 years.
She is also a certified project management professional and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Kiunge has also held several strategic and leadership positions in the public and private health sectors.
Before her appointment, she served as the Aga Khan University Director Academy HR and Global Change.
She also had a stint in the President’s Delivery Unit where she worked as a Senior Director, overseeing the implementation of the national government’s Health projects.
The new CEO takes over from John Kabuchi who was serving in acting capacity.
Kabuchi took over from Jonah Manjari who was suspended in August 2021 to pave way for a probe on COVID-19 supplies procurement.
The Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission launched investigations into the procurement of COVID-19 kits which reportedly led to the loss of billions.
A total of 12 companies were awarded tenders worth KSh 3 billion to supply items that were not covered in KEMSA’s budget as at June 4, 2020.
Manjari had appeared before the Senate Health Committee in July after members requested to know why he was procuring the personal protective equipment at KSh 9,000 while the market rate was pegged at KSh 4,500.
There were reports that COVID-19 donations were also being diverted by infuential people for resale to the government through irregular tenders.
