Kenyan businesswoman, human resource professional and crooked corporate executive Terry Kiunga Ramadhani was in May 2022 made the chief executive officer at the tainted Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA).
Ramadhani was pushed to the plum position by members of Uhuru Kenyatta family led by cousin Kathreen Kihanya and sister Nyokabi Kenyatta who bagged lucrative tenders with State Agencies linked to the Health ministry, specifically Kemsa.
In less than a week after her appointment, Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) wrote to Ramadhani inquiring her to shed light on the money rinsing scheme, especially on proceeds of Kemsa theft.
ARA also had questions about firms including Ultra Lab East Africa Ltd and Plasma Health & Training College which the CEO used during Uhuru’s tenure to loot Sh 200 million from KEMSA through a scandal involving illegal recruitment of 377 new staff members.
Ramadhani schemed the recruitment of officers to fill various technical and professional positions at the troubled State agency where the board was coerced to approved a budget of Sh70 million for consultancy services in the hiring of the said officers to give KEMSA a face lift after the infamous theft of Covid-19 funds in 2020.
She was the brain behind every dirty deal as her future looked guaranteed if Uhuru Kenyatta succeeded in propelling Raila Odinga to presidency.
The 43 year old went to KEMSA under the guise of a no-nonsense CEO but targeted staffers she considered allies of Kenya Kwanza principals with a sack.
In her recruitment scandal she targeted Samuel Okanda-warehouse manager, Maureen Nyakako, Victor Nyakako, Emily Odera (distribution), Lilian Adhiambo, Collins Orido (admin), Marjorie Atieno (Mombasa), Veronica Adhiambo (warehouse), Christopher Okoth (QA), Fred Okoko(warehouse), Dennis Otieno (Kisumu) and Wilfred Ahayo (warehouse) among many others.
But her key target was one Ferdinand Wanyonyi who at one point acted as CEO. Wanyonyi was in the same group with Phillip Murunga (customer service), Kelvin Muhatia (HR), Diana (admin), Steve Murimi (ICT), Mercy Gichari (CEO’s office), Collins Kamau (finance) and Vellah Tuikong’ (HR) Ericriss Maina (warehouse) , Anne Mwendwa (warehouse), Jerusa Ochoi (admin), Evans Nyaramba (warehouse) and Elizabeth Mwai.
They were hoodwinked to reapply for their positions as perfect way to kick them out of KEMSA.
Ramadhani used scandalous officers strategically placed at the staff recruitment process including Patience Nduta- Deputy Commissioner at KRA, a liaison officer at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and Antony Chege who is a procurement assistant at Kemsa to kick out the ‘unwanted’ staff.
Nduta who works as the regional coordinator for South Rift also had her company, Nuven Consulting used in channeling the dirty money.
The situation created by Ramadhani and her many scandals forced procurement director Silas Njeru to opt for a leave to avoid being tainted but his exit gave the CEO prime opportunity to task Chege with the responsibility of handling dubious transactions.
“ARA is currently conducting investigations into suspected money laundering activity in which one of the employees at the Kemsa is allegedly involved’’. the letter reads in part.
ARA director Alice Mate wants Kemsa boss to furnish them with procurement and tendering documents including contracts, letters of awards, completion certificates, list of bidders in each contract awarded certificated copies of payment vouchers for each contract and its attachment.
She has also compelled Ramadhani to avail bank details for each company paid stating the branch and amount, details of Kemsa bank account making payment, budget and procurement plans of the county government for the period between 2019 and 2021 among other documents to assist ARA in their investigations.
Ramadhani whose appointment was also influenced by former health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe is accusing KEMSA staffers of being behind the attempts to bring her down and resist transformations at the scandal ridden agency.
