Police lobby teargas to disperse protestors of COVID-19 scandal

By Mourice Seretta

Several protestors who had converged at Nairobi’s Uhuru Park to protest against alleged misuse of funds in the fight against COVID-19 were dispersed by police who lobbied teargas canisters at the protestors.

The protestors who were led by one Wanjeri Nderi had planned to march to Afya House, the Ministry of Health’s Headquarters, and petition the Ministry’s Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe to take responsibility over the alleged embezzlement of grants, donations and loans that the Ministry has received to fight the pandemic.

Ms Nderi argues that the scandal also involves procurement of protective gear after the head of Kenya Medical Supplies Authority, KEMSA, Jonah Manjari was suspended for allegedly misusing public funds meant to fight Covid 19 by inflating costs of PPES.

“We want the Ministry to explain to Kenyans how money meant to combat COVID 19 has been used. We hear billions of shillings have been misused. We want action and not reaction,” said a furious Ms Nderi, the organizer of the protest.

She also said that several of her fellow protestors were arrested.

Health CS Kagwe has been categorical that he knows that his Ministry is full of cartels who have been operating for years curtailing delivery of services vowing to uproot them but his vows have been met with uproar from Kenyans and many stakehoders who say he needs to act and not just talk.

Meanwhile, suspended KEMSA boss Jonah Manjari failed to appear before the Senate Committee to shed light on the alleged misuse of public funds citing sickness.

It is said that Manjari is admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital where he has been receiving treatment owing to his failure to appear before the Senate Committee probing the matter.