The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority has defended the alleged bungled mosquito nests procurement tender.
Kemsa chief executive officer Terry Ramadhani on Wednesday said the two companies; Shobikaa Impex and Partec East Africa Ltd, were the most qualified suppliers.
The two had been pre-qualified for the Sh3.7 billion tender but were disqualified by Global Fund on grounds they had failed to meet the documentation requirements.
Global Fund is supposed to finance the process.
Speaking on JKL Live on Wednesday, Ramadhani said the process was an open international tender hence Shobikaa Impex is an Indian company that cannot be found on the Kenyan registrar of companies.
“There was no outside pressure to ensure these companies get the tender. These are companies that have been working in that area,” Ramadhani said.
She said Shobikaa Impex is an Indian company; the product is what is registered with Pharmacy and Poisons Board in Kenya.
"Shobikaa Impex has not only done business with nets in Kenya with Kemsa this time as they were trying to, but they have also been there many years and it is not a new company,” the CEO said.