ARV’s donation meant for Kenyans diverted to West Africa

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ARV’s donation meant for Kenyans diverted to West Africa

There is an outcry after it emerged that Antiretroviral or ARV drugs donated by the US government for Kenyans in 2019 were diverted to a West African country after the local tax body, KRA allegedly imposed and demanded tax.

The 3.5 billion shillings consignment is believed to have been donated through USAID to benefit over 900,000 HIV positive Kenyans .
The United States government had partnered with the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority to receive the donation by USAID.
According to a local blog, KRA swiftly levied tax on the drugs.



However, KEMSA failed to get clearance to get the drugs because the US embassy refused to pay the tax arguing that it was a donation.
Accordingly, the Kenya Ports Authority reportedly declined to offload the consignment forcing the shipping company to seek for fresh instructions from the United States.



It is believed that the US government then donated the drugs to a West African country

https://twitter.com/Ukkenyata/status/1212763608154877952?s=20