Out of the blue, on March 30, 2020, Clet Nikiza announced on Rwanda government television that his company, L.E.A.F Pharmaceuticals, is ready to find and apply solutions to Covid19 pandemic in Rwanda. It remains unclear whether the Niyikiza solution is a clinical trial or availing an already finished product to fight Covid19.
What is most shocking about Niyikiza announcement is this: Prior to his statement, there was zero involvement in this matter by both the national and international bodies. The Rwanda Medical Association, Rwanda National Ethics Committee, Rwanda lungs specialists, emergency specialists, pharmacists, and even to the Ministry of Health as well the World Health Organization (WHO) were not involved. So how could Niyikiza go on the government television and make such a unilateral decision?
The answer is General Paul Kagame. Kagame is once again teaming up with Clet Niyikiza to steal from the people of Rwanda. You may recall that in 2009 Kagame poured over US$22 million of Rwandan pension money into the US-based Merrimack Pharmaceuticals in which members of his Presidential Advisory Council, Michael Fairbanks and Michael Porter, were invested.
As part of the deal, Clet Niyikiza joined Merrimack as Senior Vice President in 2009. Without any explanation, Niyikiza jumped ship in 2014 and formed his L.E.A.F. Pharmaceuticals LLC. No one knows what became of Rwanda’s US$22 million investment. Was this the money Niyikiza used to launch his own company, with Kagame as sleeping investor? Nobody knows.
General Paul Kagame is king in Rwanda so none can hold him accountable. And once again the Rwandan king is teaming up with Niyikiza to steal millions of dollars from the people of Rwanda. Watch out – Covid19 will turn into gold for Kagame and Niyikiza.
