Nairobi and Homa Bay counties are leading with the highest debts owed to the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority.
KEMSA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Andrew Mulwa said in total, eight counties are yet to settle outstanding debts for medical commodities supplied and have already exceeded the 45-day credit period specified by the authority.
Top on the list is Nairobi County with Sh243 million followed by Homa Bay County which owe KEMSA Sh104 million.
Others that have defaulted on their payments include Busia (Sh82 million), Nakuru (Sh53 million), Trans Nzoia (Sh49 million), Kisumu (Sh35 million), Mombasa (Sh13.6 million), and Nyamira (Sh9 million).
“We are actively engaging these counties to pay,” Dr Mulwa told Editors at a retreat in Mombasa on Thursday.
“In discussions held with media editors, Kemsa’s acting CEO, Dr. Andrew Mulwa, revealed that ongoing negotiations between the authority and county governors are underway. “We are hopeful because the governors have expressed their commitment to settling these outstanding debts.”
Beyond the financial challenges stemming from unpaid debts, KEMSA has also encountered losses related to the procurement of protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mulwa says KEMSA is actively engaging governors to settle the bills