Africa-Press – Kenya. Police in Homa Bay have arrested three suspects who were found with consignment of medicines which were procured by the county government.
The three who included a driver and two turn boys were arrested when they were in the process of offloading the consignments from a lorry to a rental house in Rodi Kopany trading centre.
The drugs were part of the batch which was purchased by the county government at Sh20 million.
The drugs which were packed in 185 cartons were destined to various health facilities in Ndhiwa and Rachuonyo North subcounties.
They had already been labelled according to the health facilities they were supposed to be delivered to in the two subcounties.
The operations were led by Homa Bay subcounty directorate of criminal investigations officer Monica Berege.
The officers acted after they got a tip off from members of the public.
“Residents became suspicious with a lorry that was being offloaded. They thought they were bricks but they realised they were several cartons of drugs,” she said.
The tenant whom the drugs were being packed in her house escaped before police arrived.
Police found 145 cartons had already been offloaded and taken into the house.
The remaining 40 cartons of drugs and the lorry were confiscated and taken to Rodi police station.
Acting county health chief officer Kevin Osuri said the stolen drugs were ordered from the Mission for Essential Drugs Supply.
On Saturday, Osuri said the drugs were supposed to be delivered to various health facilities but some people diverted them to their house.
“These are part of the Sh20million drugs we procured from MEDS. They were supposed to reach the health facilities from November 11,” Osuri said.
He said the drugs belonged to the county government because they had been labelled with names of various health facilities.
Osuri commended residents for being vigilant and police for acting swiftly.
“The drugs were being diverted to unknown place during delivery. They had not reached our health facilities,” he said.
He said they cannot take the drugs because the confiscated ones were taken to police station as exhibit.
He said they had intensified the fight against drug theft from health facilities.
“MEDS must give us fresh drugs as we procured because we have not received our order,” he added.
Two weeks ago, Governor Gladys Wanga and her deputy Oyugi Magwanga warned health workers against engaging in drug theft.
She said they had put some modalities in place to track drugs and prevent them from being stolen.
Wanga said they are sealing loopholes which unscrupulous people use for stealing from health facilities.
“Any medic found engaging in drug pilferage will be sacked. You either shape up or ship out,” Wanga said.
For More News And Analysis About Kenya Follow Africa-Press
