The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) employees want the current Board and Senior management sent away over corruption, incompetence and abuse of office.
In letter sent to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on 29th November 2022, the Union of Kenya Civil servants KEMRI branch said the Research Institution is being run down.
The letter was written by Dr. Edward Githinji, Chairman Kenya Union of Civil Servants- KEMRI Branch.
They called for immediate revocation and disbandment of the KEMRI Chairman and the Board members
Githinji said if this is not done, the government won’t achieve its mandate.
“The Current Board members and the chairman did not respect the rule of law and are part of the serious abuse of office and financial malpractices at KEMRI,” he said.
The union called for removal from office of Acting Director General Professor Sam Kariuki, acting director corporate service and deputy director of finance Mr. Anthony Stephen Wachira and Corporation secretary and director legal service Mr. Martin Macharia.
The letter said that members of the union believe the senior management are behind the abuse of office and serious financial irregularities at KEMRI and they should be suspended or be punished.
Dr Githinji said the KEMRI board and the few senior management as named should be forced to honor court judgement dated October, 2021 and have Mr. James Maringa Mwangi reinstated back to his substantive position of deputy director internal audit.
“KEMRI management particularly Mr. Anthony Stephen Wachira Deputy Director finance and Acting Director Corporate services should be forced to account for ksh 2.28 billion received from the National Treasury and the status are Unknown,” Githinji said.
They said the two should also be forced to account for ksh 1.2 billion donor funds that is alleged he cannot account for.
The said the two should be forced to account for ksh 12 million imprest.
“The deputy director finance AG director finance Mr. Anthony Stephen Wachira be forced out of the KEMRI staff pensions scheme because members have no confidence in him and his leadership,” Githinji said.
The Union wants the renewal of contract of cooperation secretary and director, legal services Mr. Martin Macharia be rejected for causing the government to loose funds through University legal fees
Among other issues raised are the process of engaging private legal services.
They want the services audited and a report of total legal fees paid from July 2019 to Oct 2022 to external advocates be made available
“Mr. Patrick Mbugua Gitau who was promoted to a position of deputy director audit yet the position was not vacant be demoted, for participating in an illegal process. The secondment of Ms. Beatrice Adieri to KEMRI as AG deputy director Human resource should be revoked because it is not useful to KEMRI. The ministry of health should move with speed to fill position that are vacant. The position includes; Director Corporate Service, Director General/ C.E.O KEMRI, Deputy Director Human Resource, Deputy Director Strategy and Compliance,” Githinji said.
The union insisted that Members are concerned that continued failure by KEMRI management to reinstate Mr. James M. Mwangi the deputy director – internal audit is causing KEMRI and the public to lose finance due to payment of unnecessary legal fees.
The union said it is aware that Mr. Mwangi was dismissed unfairly in January, 2020 for doing his work as an auditor.
Your Excellency it is our opinion that KEMRI requires a competent auditor namely Mr. James Mwangi to assist in safeguarding of public finances at KEMRI.
“It has been alleged that KEMRI has engaged the services of a legal firm whose wife is a KEMRI employee working at human resource department, and this has been a serious conflict of interest,” the letter reads.
The union added that its aware that the KEMRI Board and management promoted Mr. Patrick Gitau to the position of deputy director (head of internal audit) a position that was not vacant.
Githinji said this is an example of abuse of office by some senior managers at KEMRI.
“We believe a forensic audit by someone independent may bring out many more malpractices including abuse of office at KEMRI,” they said.