Exclusive: Ministry of Health Cartels Behind KNH CEO’s Sudden Exit, Sources Reveal

Investigation uncovers alleged scheme to irregularly supply hospital equipment through rushed leadership change

The abrupt dismissal of Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Chief Executive Officer Dr. Evanson Kamuri appears to be linked to a wider scheme by Ministry of Health cartels to facilitate irregular procurement of hospital equipment, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Dr. Kamuri, who was set to proceed on terminal leave in October 2024 after reaching retirement age, was dismissed ahead of schedule in what sources describe as a calculated move to clear the way for questionable procurement deals.

The Oxygen Plant Controversy

At the center of the controversy is a Sh433 million oxygen plant procurement that has been under investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). Sources close to the matter reveal that Dr. Kamuri and KNH management were not involved in the procurement of the oxygen facility, which was handled directly by the Ministry of Health.

During a December 29, 2024 Board of Management meeting, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) CEO Evanson Kamuri declined to sign a report which highlighted several anomalies in a Sh443.6 million tender awarded to Biomax Africa Ltd two years earlier.

The refusal to endorse the problematic tender appears to have sealed Dr. Kamuri’s fate, with insiders suggesting that powerful interests within the Ministry of Health wanted him removed to facilitate future irregular procurements.

The Rush to Remove Kamuri

Sources indicate that Dr. Kamuri was originally scheduled to proceed on terminal leave in October, having reached the mandatory retirement age. However, the decision to accelerate his departure appears to be motivated by plans to introduce new equipment procurement processes that would bypass normal oversight mechanisms.

“The rush to send him home is directly linked to schemes to irregularly bring equipment to KNH,” a source familiar with the matter disclosed. “They want to implement a Fixed Fee Contract (FFC) system that will facilitate these irregular supplies.”

Dr. Kamuri’s tenure has been marked by increasing pressure from anti-corruption investigations. Courts have frozen Sh48.5 million and multiple properties belonging to the KNH CEO pending investigations by the anti-graft agency over allegations of corruption and procurement irregularities.

However, sources suggest that Dr. Kamuri’s resistance to signing off on questionable procurement deals made him a target for removal rather than prosecution alone.

On August 29, 2024, Dr Kamuri wrote to then PS Harry Kimtai, asking for intervention in the delays, because the Health Ministry was the procuring entity. Three months later, he wrote to Mr Kimtai again, stating that the rectifications were yet to be done.

The case highlights broader systemic issues within Kenya’s health sector procurement processes. The oxygen plant procurement, valued at over Sh400 million, was handled entirely by the Ministry of Health, yet KNH leadership has faced the brunt of investigations and sanctions.

Sources within the health sector warn that the rush to change leadership at KNH could be part of a broader strategy to facilitate irregular equipment supplies through less stringent oversight mechanisms.

“This is a clear cover-up,” one source stated. “They needed Kamuri out of the way to implement their procurement schemes without resistance.”

Efforts to reach the Ministry of Health for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication. The Ministry has not issued an official statement regarding Dr. Kamuri’s dismissal or the allegations surrounding the procurement irregularities.

The EACC investigation into the oxygen plant procurement remains ongoing, with several Ministry of Health officials reportedly under scrutiny.

The rushed leadership transition at KNH raises questions about the transparency and accountability of future procurement processes at the country’s largest referral hospital. Healthcare sector observers are calling for enhanced oversight to prevent the misuse of public resources intended for critical medical equipment.

The case also highlights the vulnerability of senior public officials who attempt to resist irregular procurement schemes, potentially setting a concerning precedent for governance in Kenya’s health sector.