The decision to ban businessman Sakaria Johannes’ Tokai Investment CC for five years after it supplied medical equipment stolen from the same ministry of health that hired him to provide them is shocking in its leniency.
The Public Procurement Review Panel issued the slap on the wrist after investigations established without a doubt that the government was buying its own material stolen from the Central Medical Stores.
The theft was only discovered through routine inspections, which does not clear the suspicion that government employees were involved.
That only the company was sanctioned is worrying. What about the beneficial owners of the company? Are they left with the option to shut down Tokai Investment and set up another entity to supply medicine?
Without further action, as only one person is taking the blame for the theft, crooked people putting lives in danger are left to operate in the system.
A comprehensive cleanup is required as this is a mere example of the rot in that ministry.
